No, I haven't been able to find any reference to Scotland in any previous records and I don't have a death for her husband. His name is not uncommon so to date, I've had no luck matching him to any of the records.
I've searched directories & newspapers in the past looking for any clue to exactly where they may have lived, but again, I cannot tell which one he might be.
Although Sarah said she was a widow, one can't even be sure of that completely, as it was probably the only 'respectable' description for a woman on her own who had been previously married. It's probably correct, but I can't rule anything out until I find the evidence.
I had not thought of the Maxwells possibly having property in Ireland, so that's a thought. My googling has not managed to find it if so, but I did read somewhere that there were many Irish properties owned by English or Scottish landowners.
My plan now is to contact the National Archives to see if I can find a way of accessing the records for the parish, even though they are not online and I can't go there myself. I also wondered whether there might be family papers relating to the Maxwell family of that time and if so, who might have them etc.
Seems a lot of research for a small piece of info, but the census records only give us that ten yearly snapshot of the person's life and anything could have happened in between.
Still, it's the detective work and stories which are so interesting to me in family history, not the dates or who begat who etc.
Regards Eliza.