MAIN CHARACTERS ONLY

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.

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.

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

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

GEORGE LATHAM – an ordinary man!

HINEWAI MACKAY – (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!