Johnny Tremain Characters

Madge is the eldest Lapham sister. Like her younger sister Dorcas, she’s coarse, stout, and red-faced—and like her mother Mrs. Lapham, she isn’t fussy about manners. Before Mr. Tweedie can marry her, Madge runs off with a British lieutenant, Lieutenant Gale.

Governor Hutchinson is the governor of Massachusetts Colony. Rab describes him as a Tory he can respect, as Governor Hutchinson legitimately believes that it’s possible and worthwhile for the colonies to continue negotiating with England and remain British colonies.

Jehu is John Hancock’s personal enslaved boy. He’s always well-dressed and polite.

Frizel, Junior is a leatherworker whom Dorcas runs off with and marries.

Sewall is a Lyte cousin who ultimately ends up running away and joining the Minute Men.

Sam Adams is one of the leading members of the Boston Observers. He’s an older, slightly shaky man, but this doesn’t diminish his power or his prestige.

Mr. Justice Dana is the judge who presides when Johnny appears in court accused of stealing Merchant Lyte’s silver cup. Though he’s friends with Merchant Lyte, Cilla and Isannah’s testimony leads him to rule in Johnny’s favor.

Mr. Quincy is a young, nervous lawyer who represents Johnny free of charge when Merchant Lyte accuses Johnny of stealing a silver cup. He’s a Whig and is loosely associated with the rebel movement.

Captain Bull is a hulking ship’s captain whom Merchant Lyte attempts to use to intimidate Johnny.

The Webb twins are two little boys apprenticed in Uncle Lorne’s printing shop. Uncle Lorne sends them out of Boston after the Boston Tea Party grinds business to a halt.

Rabbit is Aunt Jenifer and Uncle Lorne’s infant son. Johnny pretends not to like the baby, but he actually adores Rabbit and gives him his nickname.

Mr. Molineaux is one of the Boston Observers.

Mr. Rotch owns one of the three tea ships stuck in the Boston Harbor prior to the Boston Tea Party.

Lydia is an enslaved Black woman who works at the Afric Queen tavern. Annoyed by the British officers’ desire for fresh sheets weekly, she begins helping Johnny spy on them by relaying any potentially important information she overhears.

Colonel Nesbit is the British officer who catches Rab and a farmer trying to purchase a stolen British musket. Though Nesbit tars and feathers the farmer, he sends Rab away and tells him to buy a popgun, as Rab is only a boy.

Dr. Church is a member of the Boston Observers, but he’s an odd man, and by the end of the novel, Paul Revere no longer trusts him.

Earl Percy is a British officer who leads reinforcements to join Colonel Smith when the British march on Lexington and Concord.

Sandy is Colonel Smith’s warhorse. He’s extremely well trained, calm, and affectionate.

Nan is one of Colonel Smith’s horses. She’s favored for riding around Boston, as she has easy gaits to ride.

A member of Paul Revere’s spy network, Billy dresses as a drunken farmer, pays off the guards at the Neck, and rides north to warn Minute Men that the British are marching the night before the battles at Lexington and Concord.

Robert Newman is a member of Paul Revere’s spy network; he hangs two lanterns in the Christ Church tower, indicating that the British will leave Boston by the river. He’s jailed for this.

Major Pitcairn is a foul-mouthed but well-liked British officer. He leads a regiment of marines to back up Colonel Smith at the battles of Lexington and Concord.