Jabez is an impoverished farmer who struggles relentlessly against bad crops and financial ruin while trying to provide for his family. Frustrated by his lack of agricultural success, he rashly offers his soul in exchange for financial prosperity. He considers himself a religious man but behaves hypocritically, allowing his desire for stability to override his moral reservations.

Daniel is a renowned American lawyer and statesperson with a profound dedication to preserving the national Union. He possesses immense oratorical talent and commands intense respect from his peers, maintaining a reputation as a powerful, elemental force. He fiercely defends American ideals of freedom and hard work, though his patriotism frequently requires him to navigate complex moral compromises.

Scratch is a supernatural debt collector who operates much like a wealthy banker issuing mortgages. He carries a pocketbook filled with contracts and trapped human souls, calmly presenting himself as an archetypal American citizen. His polite, highly reasonable demeanor masks a predatory confidence in the strict legal terms of his agreements.

Hathorne is a deceased historical figure who famously presided over the executions during the Salem Witch Trials. He returns from the grave to oversee the legal dispute between the mortal and supernatural parties. He represents a deeply corrupted aspect of the historical American justice system.

Walter is a deceased Loyalist who fought against the American Revolution. He appears from the afterlife to sit on the jury assessing the contract dispute, selected specifically for his historical opposition to the founding of the United States.

Simon is a white man who grew up among the Seneca and aided British forces during the American Revolution. He evaluates the trial arguments as a member of the supernatural jury.

Also known as Metacomet, King Philip is a Wampanoag chief who led a major resistance against New England colonists. He listens to the trial proceedings as a representative of those who opposed early colonial expansion.

Thomas is a former dictatorial administrator of colonial Virginia. He brings his authoritarian background to the supernatural jury panel, serving alongside other notorious figures from early American history.

Morton is a historical rival of the Plymouth Pilgrims. He serves on the jury of the damned, selected precisely because of his oppositional stance in early American history.

Edward is widely known as the pirate Blackbeard, famous for blockading Charlestown, South Carolina. He acts as part of the notorious group chosen to evaluate the legal dispute over human souls.

John is a clergyman placed among the infamous historical figures on the jury of the damned. He listens to the legal arguments alongside pirates and political rivals.

The Narrator is an unnamed New England resident who relays the supernatural legal battle as a piece of local folklore. This individual speaks with deep reverence for the region's legendary figures and establishes the mythic tone of the events.

She is the decent, hardworking wife of the unlucky farmer. She raises their growing family under severe financial strain, completely unaware of the drastic bargain her husband strikes to secure their future.

The unnamed children live on the struggling farm in New Hampshire. Their persistent hunger serves as a primary motivator for their father's desperate choices.