Ernest Frederick Berteau was the collector for Customs.

His wife’s name was Minnie and she died in 1886. He worked as the collector of customs duties before becoming the cashier of the long-sought Little Bay’s Savings Bank. He made himself wealthy on import and was suspected of overcharging in a scam with Thomas Walsh. He played on the cricket team (The Little Bay Pioneers), was a member of the rifle club, and sang publicly at the Little Bay Public Hall. He led the Little Bay brass band which performed at the Little Bay Hotel for honoured guests such as foreign admirals and government officials. He was selected to read the welcome to Governor Blake during his visit to town.

He’d moved to Little Bay from Twillingate by 1882 when he was just 15 years old. He was a singer and public speaker. The town would hold dramatic events in the town hall and he would participate in various ways. Full of youth and energy, he was a part of the community through cricket and other athletic activities.

Berteau acquired his post through nepotism as a teenager. His father became magistrate in Twillingate following the death of Peyton and Ernest was appointed to his position in Little Bay soon after.

Further, he was suspected of profiting as a middle man through import to the town in an underhanded arrangement with the Mail and mine’s management. 

Little Bay was divided with an obvious upper class enjoying excess luxury and grander while a hard working labour class, much less well documented, supported them. The wealthier were more educated and cultured and we therefore can know much more about them.

Ernest Berteau was a product of this conflicting environment. I’ve found no record of him remarrying or having other children so this presentation may very well be the most attention he has been given since his death in 1912 at the age of 45. He is buried in St. John’s.

Thoughts
I can put him in context with nepotism and Wallace’s management. I can probably tell a bit about his character through all of his immediate social involvement. The conspiracy is super interesting.

His family connection adds a lot for context and his position gives insight into some larger local corruption. I’d like to know when he left town to see if it was long after Wallace.

Sources

1882, March –  Choral Society (TS)
1883, Feb – Public Hall event (TS)
1883, March – Public Hall event (TS)
1883, Aug – Cricket (TS)
1884, April – Cricket (TS)
1885, Oct – Departure of Mr. Wallace (ET)
1886, Dec – Death of wife Minnie (ET)