Mary Barton Characters

Mr. George Wilson is father to Jem Wilson, husband to Mrs. Wilson, and good friend to John Barton, though he is less intelligent and better-tempered than John. He dies suddenly during an economic downturn, leaving Jem to support Mrs. Wilson and his aunt Alice Wilson.

Charley Jones is the son of Mrs. Jones, Will Wilson’s landlady in Liverpool. An energetic and mischievous boy who wants to become a sailor, Charley tells Mary Barton to go after Will’s departing ship so that she can inform him he must provide Jem Wilson’s alibi for murder.

Mrs. Davenport is the poor wife of one of Mr. George Wilson’s unemployed former coworkers. After her husband dies of typhoid, she shows her gratitude for the help Mr. Wilson and John Barton give her family by repeatedly helping Mrs. Wilson and Alice Wilson in times of difficulty.

The most sensible and spirited of Harry Carson’s sisters, Sophy is the one to tell her father Mr. Carson that Harry has been murdered after the servants are too frightened to tell him themselves.

Miss Simmonds is a seamstress who hires Mary Barton first as an apprentice and then as a paid employee. She also employs Sally Leadbitter, among other young women.

Wife to John Barton and mother to Mary Barton, Mrs. Barton dies in childbirth when Mary is 13, shortly after Mrs. Barton’s sister Esther disappears. John blames Mrs. Barton’s death on the shock of Esther’s disappearance, which leads him to treat Esther very harshly when she reappears in Manchester.

Mr. Bridgnorth, a lawyer, represents Jem Wilson after Jem is accused of murdering Harry Carson.

Mrs. Jones is Will Wilson’s landlady in Liverpool.