Amanda is the eldest sibling in the Freebold family and takes on a heavy burden of responsibility in her mother's absence. With her mother severely ill, Amanda works long hours as an unpaid servant in Mistress Trippett’s London home. She is fiercely protective of her younger brother and sister, using storytelling to comfort them and keep their hopes alive for a better future in America.

Jemmy is Amanda's eight-year-old brother who chafes against the strict confinement of their life in London. Forced to stay quiet and hidden on the back stairs of the Trippett house all day, he is inquisitive and eager for freedom. He treasures a brass lion's head door knocker their father left for them, treating it as a protective charm and a connection to his family.

Meg is the five-year-old youngest sibling of the Freebold family. She is exceptionally quiet and timid, largely due to spending her days confined and silent on the back stairs of Mistress Trippett's home. She relies entirely on Amanda for protection and interprets the scary world around her through the stories her older sister tells.

James Freebold is the father of Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg. He left London for Jamestown, Virginia, to establish a better life and prepare a home for his family in the New World. Before leaving, he gave his children a brass lion's head door knocker as a promise of protection and a symbol that they will one day live under the same roof again.

Dr. Crider is the physician tending to Mistress Freebold. He is an older man with a gray beard who harbors a lifelong dream of traveling to the New World. Unlike the wealthy employers in London, he shows genuine compassion for the Freebold children, treating them with kindness and dignity despite their lower social class.

Mistress Trippett is the wealthy, exacting owner of the house where the Freebolds live. She demands strict obedience and uses Mistress Freebold's illness as an excuse to extract unpaid labor from Amanda. She views the younger children as a nuisance and shows no sympathy for the family's difficult situation, caring only about her household running smoothly.

Mistress Freebold is the mother of Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg. Once a hardworking servant who fell down the stairs, she is now bedridden and unable to care for her family. Her illness forces Amanda to take over her duties in the household and leaves the children entirely dependent on the unyielding Mistress Trippett for shelter.

Cook runs the kitchen in Mistress Trippett's home with an iron fist. She dislikes the Freebold children, referring to them as "brats," and actively tries to make Amanda's life difficult by assigning her heavy, continuous chores. She aligns herself entirely with Mistress Trippett's strict rules.

Ellie is a maid in Mistress Trippett's household. Unlike Cook, she displays moments of compassion toward Amanda and her family. She understands the harsh realities of their employment and sometimes offers practical advice or a brief reprieve from Amanda's heavy responsibilities.

Robert Waters is a passenger traveling to America. He is observant and takes an interest in the Freebold children and their belongings. Like many making the crossing, he is looking for new opportunities, though his motivations and reliability remain unclear to the young siblings.

Randolph is Mistress Trippett's adult son. He shares his mother's privileged lifestyle and exhibits the same lack of concern for the servants who maintain their home. He is quick to enforce his mother's will without questioning the morality of their actions.

Anne is a child traveling to Virginia with her family. Coming from a slightly better social position than the Freebolds, she is talkative and eager to share details about the animals her family will own in the New World.

David is Anne's brother, traveling with his family to Virginia. He is cautious about letting others play with his few toys and spends his time staying out of the way of the adult passengers.

Mistress Hopkins is a passenger traveling to the New World with her husband and children. She is highly protective of her own family's space and resources, showing little patience for dealing with the struggles of other travelers.

The unnamed sailor is a man who recently returned from Virginia. He acts as a messenger for James Freebold, bringing news that a house is waiting for the family in America. He provides the initial spark of hope that sets Amanda's sights on the New World.

Chris Carter is a fellow passenger traveling to the New World. He associates with Robert Waters and observes the daily lives of the other travelers, looking forward to reaching Virginia.

John Rolfe is a prominent passenger traveling to Virginia. He pays attention to the social dynamics among the travelers and occasionally offers advice to the younger passengers regarding the rumors and items of value on board.