Just to add that if Margaret Currie was indeed born in Ireland there is in the 1861 census a Margaret Currie of about the correct age b 1835 listed as a prisoner in North Prison, Glasgow! Possible explanation as to why James Currie was with grandparents?
William
Just to add that there is a likelyhood she was back in prison again for 1871:
Margaret Currie 36 domestic servant, b. Ireland
Address: General Prison For Scotland, Edinburgh Road - Perth
From NAS
www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ a possible time line:
1852: Margaret Currie, Age: 16, Address: Sturrock Street, Anderston, Glasgow, Origin: Native of Glasgow - crime of theft. Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Imprisonment - 9 months.
1854: Margaret Currie, Age: 19, Address: New Wynd, Glasgow, as lodger, Origin: Native of Ireland - crime of theft and previous conviction. Guilty in terms of own confession, Sentence: Penal servitude - 4 years.
1866: Margaret Currie, cohabits with Patrick McHendry, Age: 21, no occupation, Address: 148 Trongate, Glasgow, Origin: Native of Ireland - crime of theft and previous conviction. Verdict: Not proven.
1870: Margaret Currie, Age: 36, lodging house keeper, Address: Drygate, Glasgow, Origin: Native of Ireland - crime of theft and previous conviction. Verdict: Guilty, Sentence: Penal servitude - 7 years.
Is this Margaret Currie, mother of James...
Monica