William McGie in West Indies and sugar plantations

[sandir03]

Hi, this is my first post in quite a while so hopefully I can find out some information about my late Great Uncle, William McGie.

William was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1891 to parents John McGie and Robina Freeland. He went to the Allen Glen School.

Initially William (an engineer) is rumoured to have sailed to British Guiana, but I have been unable to find out any information on him there.

He is supposed to have had some association with Booker Brothers Estate company and sugar plantations.

He later ended up in Barbados, West Indies.

He married Phyllis Dorothy Abella Greenidge (a widow, previously married to Harold H Leslie) in Barbados in 1942. Phyllis died in 1959 and William in 1963 in Barbados.
I can't find any evidence on them or of having a family.

I would love to find out any information or where I can search for any information on him and his life, if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance,

Sandi

[Neale1961]

From passenger lists .....

William McGie, 30 years (UK address in Glasgow), planter, last residence Barbia
Arriving Plymouth - Sep 1921 - from West India

William McGie, 31 years (UK address in Glasgow), sugar planter
Departing England - Mar 1922 - going to Demerara, Guyana (intended future residence)

If he married in 1942, any children would probably be still living, and can't be named here.

[sugarbakers]

"Chapter VIII - Life on a Demerara Sugar Plantation (as of 1920)"

... the title of one chapter - a number more follow in British Guiana, Louisiana, West Indies, and South America.
McTavish and McDonald are mentioned, but not (as far as I can see, it's not indexed) McGie. Very interesting reading throughout ... if you can find a copy.

The book ..."Tales of a Sugar Tramp" by Emile C FREELAND, Pelican, New Orleans 1954 ... is that name coincidental or is there a connection, I wonder.

[sandir03]

I found this link to the book mentioned -

blob:https://babel.hathitrust.org/676728c7-24bb-4688-9016-8ef607d29b3d

[Erato]

Caribbean newspapers:

https://dloc.com/collections/cndl

Searches for McGie and Greenidge turn up some results but I haven't looked at them to see if they're relevant.

[sugarbakers]

I found this link to the book mentioned -
blob:https://babel.hathitrust.org/676728c7-24bb-4688-9016-8ef607d29b3d

... also available Print-on-Demand from Abebooks ...

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?bi=0&bx=off&cm_sp=SearchF-_-Advs-_-Result&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&rollup=on&sortby=17&sts=t&tn=tales%20of%20a%20sugar%20tramp&xdesc=off&xpod=off

[It's been a long time since books like this were just a few pounds on Ebay !]