Horace Montagu Herbert (1849-1919) oversaw several large construction projects in Little Bay in the later half of the 1880s. He moved to the town from Nipper’s Harbour in 1886 after obtaining a contract to build a road connecting the town to Hall’s Bay. He was a popular choice as he was already well known and admired in Little Bay. Described as gentlemanly in this superintendent role. He went on to other community projects. The following summer he was chosen to help plan the Queen’s Jubliee. This was Little Bay’s largest public event and was widely reported as a successful endeavour. His next contract involved moving a Presbyterian church from Betts Cove to Little Bay where it was to be repurposed as the town’s new Public Hall. Other members of the Herbert family are found recorded in Little Bay through involvement with the town’s Temperance Movement and at concerts organized by the Church of England. 1889 marks my last reference to the Herberts in Little Bay. By 1894 they had moved to Pilley’s Island where H.M. Herbert worked as an accountant. He died in Grand Falls in 1919.

Chronology and source list:

1849 – Born in Dorset, England

1861 – Still found in England

1871 – Found in Newfoundland

In St. John’s first followed by Fogo before arriving in Nipper’s Harbour

1882 – Horace Herbert living at Nipper’s Harbour (Voter’s list)

1886, Oct 27 – H.M. Herbert of Nipper’s Harbour was granted the contract to oversee building a road from Little Bay to Halls Bay. He was noted to be well known and well liked in Little Bay and so the town’s pleasure with his appointment was reported (DC, Nov 3, 1886)

1886, Nov – A visiting journalist described the area. He was accompanied along the newly constructed road to Hall’s Bay by Mr. Herbert who he refers to as a gentlemanly Superintendent (DC)

1887, Aug – Mr. Herbert was appointed to the committee of men from the Church of England helping to plan the festivities for the Queen’s Jubliee celebrations in Little Bay (ET, Aug 31, 1887)

1887, Sept 24 – Mr. Herbert won the contract to oversee the removal of the Presbyterian church from Betts Cove and see it puts to use as Little Bay’s new Public Hall (TS)

1888, Feb 14 – Miss Herbert sang at a Temperance meeting (TS, March 3, 1888)

1889 – Horris Herbert was recorded living at Indian Bight, Little Bay (Voter’s list)

1889, Feb – Fred Herbert performed at the Church of England concert with Miss Herbert on the organ (TS, March 23, 1889)

1889, Dec – Fred Herbert performed at a concert (TS, Dec 21, 1889)

1894, Jan – Horace Montague Herbert age 45 married Eleanor Burt Beasant age 26. He was a widower and an accountant. They were of the Church of England. They married at Pilleys Island (Vit stats)

1919 – H.M. Herbert died in Grand Falls