Hi Sancti,
Yes, I found some of the residents of Linnbank Cottages who were showing in the 1861 census elsewhere in Nemphlar in 1871. I have an old map (dated 1862) of the area and Linnbank Cottages are showing on it. What I hope to do is, find a map of around 1871 at Lanark Library and check if the Cottages still show on it. I have visited the site of the cottages and they have been raised to the ground with only a few of the stones from the walls showing. This will merely confirm that William was not there in 1871. Nemphlar is not that large, so my next task will be to check the total 1871 census for the villiage which for some reason seems to have been given different names from 1861. In 1861 the village was split into Nemphlar and Hall Town of Nemphlar and I think there was another section of the village, but in 1871 the census seems to refer to East and West Nemphlar and a few others. I think a chat with the expert at Lanark Library might throw some light on this also. One thing is clear though, all efforts will have to be made on the ground and not the net.
John