I have searched the 1861 census index again and I now realise that the children were not on their own.
The index does not include the relationship details recorded in the census proper.
The family appears to be:
KEATINGS, John, 36, born in Ireland
KEATINGS, Elizabeth, 40, born Stirling
PHIBBS, William, 11, born Stirling
PHIBBS, Marion, 9, born Stirling
KEATINGS, Elizabeth, 3, born Glasgow
KEATINGS, Helen, 1, born Glasgow
also, possibly:
GUERNY, Marion, 62, born Stirling
(you will need to check the microfilm to be sure)
Perhaps they were Roman Catholics? Have you tried their registers? If not, see
http://www.catholic-heritage.net/archives.htmMany deaths prior to 1855 do not appear in the indexes. There is a current Scottish Association of Family History Societies project to compile an index to burials recorded in the OPR's.