Introduced in Book 1,
The Wideawake Hat (starts in 1848)

SOPHIA MORLING (m MACKAY, then m MACKENZIE) – our main female protagonist. Born February 1829 in Leeds, England. Age at start of Book 1 – 19.

GEORGE MACKAY – Sophia’s first husband. Born November 1827 in Applecross, Scotland. Age at start of Book 1 – 21.

NANCY CORNFIELDS LAWTON – Sophia’s neighbour and friend. Born 1828 in Devon, England. Age at start of Book 1 – 20.

EDMUND LAWTON – Nancy’s husband. Born 1826 in Devon, England. Age at start of Book 1 – 22.

BENJAMIN ENOCH (BEN) LAWTON – Nancy and Edmund’s firstborn (twin). Born February 1850 in Marytown.

EDMUND NOAH (ED) – Ben’s twin brother. Born February 1850 in Marytown.

FREDERICK GEORGE (FREDDIE) MACKAY – Sophia and George’s firstborn. Born 1850 in Marytown.

JAMES MACKENZIE – Our main male protagonist – loosely based on the real James Mackenzie, infamous sheep rustler and folk hero. Born September 1825 in the Scottish borders. Age at start of Book 1 – 23.

REVEREND JOB NICOL – Vicar of Marytown. Born 1805 in England. Age at start of Book 1 – 43.

CLARA NICOL – Job’s wife. Born 1806 in England. Age at start of Book 1 – 42.

BETSY FRANKS – Runs the Marytown shop. Born 1820 in England. Age at start of Book 1 – 28.

EDGAR FRANKS – Betsy’s husband. Born 1818 in England. Age at start of Book 1 – 30.

ATEWHAI (pronounced ‘at a fy’) – Old Māori woman. Birth date unknown. Age at start of Book1 unknown, but at least 50.

HUNU – Atewhai’s husband. Birth date unknown. Age at start of Book1 unknown, but at least 50.

SAMUEL MORLING – Sophia’s brother. Born 1830 in Applecross, Scotland. Age at start of Book 1 – 18.

CARRIE MORLING – Samuel’s wife. Born 1831 in Applecross, Scotland. Age at start of Book 1 – 17.

JOHN DOUGLASS – Cellmate of James in Lyttelton Jail. Born 1830 in England. Age at start of Book 1 – 18.

HEATHER LOUISE MACKENZIE – Sophia and James’ daughter. Born October 1855 in Applecross.

ADELAIDE ROSINA (ADEY ROSE) LAWTON – Nancy and Edmund’s 3rd child (twin). Born April 1855 in Marytown.

EDITH MAY LAWTON – Adey Rose’s twin sister (stillborn). Born and died April 1855 in Marytown.

CAROLINE ANN MORLING – Carrie and Samuel’s daughter. Born October 1855 in Marytown.

Introduced in Book 2,
Shepherd’s Delight (starts 1855)

CAPTAIN JAMES SHEPHERD – A retired soldier. Born 1800 in the Scottish borders. Age at start of Book 2 – 55.

ALBERT VICTOR (BERTIE) LAWTON – Nancy and Edmund’s 5th child. Born 1857 in Applecross.

SAMUEL AMOS (SAM) MORLING – Samuel and Carrie’s 2nd child. Born 1857 in Applecross.

JOHN JAMES MACKENZIE – Sophia and James’ 2nd child. Born March 1859 in Applecross.

LUCY CARTWRIGHT – Young widow whose husband died on arrival in Marytown. Born 1833 in England. Age at start of Book 2 – 22.

JANE – another recently arrived widow to Marytown.

GUY PENDER – A visitor to Applecross. Born 1836 in England. Age at start of Book 2 – 19.

LILY ALICE MORLING – Carrie and Samuel’s 3rd child. Born May 1861 in Applecross.

NOAH PAGET – A friend of Guy’s. Born 1809 in England. Age at start of Book 2 – 46.

DORCAS PAGET – Noah’s wife. Born 1809 in England. Age at start of Book 2 – 46.

JOSHUA – The post boy. Later Betsy Frank’s shop assistant.

PERCY – Becomes the post boy. Son of Jane (and, unknown to all except his mother, the illegitimate son of Thomas Baylis).

EUNICE DOUGLASS – John’s wife living in Australia.

EVIE DOUGLASS – John and Eunice’s daughter.

JAMES DOUGLASS – John and Eunice’s son.

Introduced in Book 3,
Guy Pender (starts in 1867)

AMELIE VON TRUBER – A young lady from Zurich, Switzerland. Born 1845 in Austria. Age at start of Book 3 – 22

LIZZY BERRY – Amelie’s maid and companion. Born 1846 in East London, England. Age at start of Book 3 – 21

AUGUSTA VON TRUBER – Amelie’s younger sister.

LEON de Fevre– the baker

LUIGI – the waiter

TOBIAS LINBURG – heir to a chocolate empire.

EDWARD WINGFIELD – A rich and noble Englishman.

WILFRED DANNAY – Edward’s friend – heir to a shipping company.

Introduced in Book 4,
Three Cedar Trees (starts in 1867)

VICTORIA EMILY (VICKY) MACKENZIE – Sophia and James’ surprise 3rd child. Born 1864 in Applecross. Age at start of Book 4 – 3.

POLLY ANNA LAWTON – Nancy and Edmund’s 6th child (twin). Born 1862 in Applecross. Age at start of Book 4 – 5.

GRACE ELLEN LAWTON – Polly’s twin sister. Born 1862 in Applecross. Age at start of Book 4 – 5.

EZRA GEORGE LAWTON – Nancy and Edmund’s 8th child. Born 1865 in Applecross. Age at start of Book 4 – 18 months.

JAKOB HEUTINCK – Son of the owners of Pine Tree Farm. Born 1850 in Oamaru, New Zealand. Age at start of Book 4 – 17.

NED CATTERMOLE – Foreman of the builders who build the new Applecross homestead. Born 1834 in Little Snoring, Norfolk, England. Age at start of Book 4 – 33.

ROSS CATTERMOLE – Ned’s older brother. Born 1832 in Little Snoring, Norfolk, England. Age at start of Book 4 – 35.

DAISY and JACK – Jack has been James’ right hand man on the farm since he set up Applecross, although he is barely mentioned until Book 4. His wife, Daisy takes on the role of Sophia’s kitchen help in Book 4 and is becoming an invaluable member of the Applecross community.

NGAHUIA (pronounced ‘na – who – ear’) – A māori girl, related to Atewhai. Born 1850. Age at start of Book 4 – 17.

BEATRICE EMMELINE PENDER – Amelie and Guy’s firstborn. Born February 1868 in Applecross.

Introduced in Book 5,
Mixed Blessings (starts in 1873)

SAUL – an urchin, orphaned in tragic circumstances, adopted by Lucy and Ned.

DR CHARLIE HUNTER – The Basin’s new doctor. So handsome that ladies feign illness in order that he should attend them!

JEFFERY VINER – Son of Mr and Mrs Viner, the owners of the mill whom we met in Book 4. A brave soldier, traumatised by the wars in the north.

ANNA FINCH – Daisy’s niece brings her own secrets to the Basin when she comes to live with Daisy and Jack.

THE CUNLIFFES – Heather goes to live with the Cunliffes in Christchurch as a governess to the two boys, Stephen and Philip.

ARTHUR HANDLEY – Caroline’s first romance, who turns out to be a real bounder!

LAWRENCE MELVILLE AND THOMAS DUNBAR – two gentlemen bicyclists who come crashing into the lives of Heather, Caroline and Adey Rose.

GEORGE LATHAM – Heather’s beau.

SUSANNAH LATHAM – George’s sister.

HINEWAI MACKENZIE – (pronounced Hin-a-why) Freddie and Ngahuia’s firstborn daughter.

RALPH and ALBERT PENDER – Amelie and Guy’s 2nd and 3rd child. Ralph takes his name from Guy’s father, while Albert (pronounced Al-bear not Al-bert) is named after the tabby tomcat who lived in Guy’s apartment in Zurich!

MARY MORLING – Lizzy and Samuel’s first child.

CLOVIS CROWLEY – the newly appointed schoolmaster of Mackenzie’s Basin school.

Introduced in Book 6,
Cocksfoot and Clover (starts in 1875)

HAMISH FINDLAY – Captain Shepherd’s lawyer in Dunedin.

HENRY FROBISHER, ABE ANDREWS and FRANK JONES – 3 farmers’ sons of John James’ age who he meets in Dunedin.

GILES TE ARAKI MACKENZIE – Freddie and Ngahuia’s 2nd child, born 1875 at Applecross.

ROSE FINCH – Daisy’s sister, recently widowed.

ZACH, KITTY, TILLY, FLORENCE, JOEY, ALFIE and MILLY FINCH – Rose’s children.

ELLIS FINCH – Anna’s illegitimate child, being brought up as Rose’s son. Age 3.

THEODORA NANCY LAWTON (THEA) – Ben and Evie’s first child.

SIMEON MORLING – Lizzy and Samuel’s 2nd child.

CONSTABLE ARTHUR WATTS – newly appointed police constable in Marytown and the Basin.