Thanks Ann and Runner for your replies, rhis came about as in the 1861 census I have a Mary McColl ( aged 1 ) listed as Grand-daughter, living with my x3 greatgrandfather, Donald MacEachern, wife's parents, in the 1871 census the same child is named as Mary MacEachnie, the 2 names I think are the same child, the ages are correct and I know that Donald and his wife did not have a child named Mary, the interesting thing about this is that Donald's wife, Mary McKillop, had a sister named Margaret, who married a McColl, Margaret is listed in the 1861 census staying in Kirkcudbright with her sister and in-laws and also a 1 year old child named Jessie McColl, it appears she may have had twins though have so far been unable to find anything for Mary's birth but have found Jessie's on S.P., by the 1871 census report Margaret had died, Jessie is found in the records for the Poorhouse whilst Mary is now Mary MacEachnie, have been unable to find her or Jessie after 1871, that is why I asked about Adoption, there is one other possibility, Mary and Margaret had another sister, Ann, it is possible that she may have also married someone named McColl but have so far had no luck tracing her. Hope this makes some sort of sense.
