Monica,
Thank you very much indeed for your thoughtful reply. Yes, indeed the baptism in Auchterarder appears to be the only one which matches age-wise. But mother Catherine's age would rule it out, if there were earlier baptisms to that family, especially as her last child, also called Catherine was born c.1841/2 (aged 19 in 1861). She was born in Liverpool, but unfortunately, her birth doesn't appear in Civil Registration records, otherwise I might have a handle on the mother's maiden surname. As father Peter was a soldier, I've wondered if he was posted to Ireland, and that is why I cannot find them on Censuses earlier than 1861. Most vexing! :-)
Looking again at the census entry, I wonder if Ancestry and FindMyPast's interpretation of Margaret's birthplace as "Loch Fyne" is correct, reading it as "Lock Fain"? Which, to the best of my understanding would place the family in Argyllshire, and the parish of Glassary. There was a Peter and Catherine McDonald having family there between 1828 and 1834 (John, William, Charles and Mary Ann), but no Margaret!
Again many thanks for your reply, and your interest.
Rosemary
