Millie and Christine McKoy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Millie and Christine McKoy
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Millie and Christine in 1867
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| Born | July 11, 1851 |
| Died | October 8, 1912 (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Sideshow performers, initially while enslaved |
Millie and Christine McKoy (sometimes spelled McCoy) were incredible conjoined twins. They were born on July 11, 1851. They were joined at their lower spines. This meant they stood at a 90-degree angle to each other. People called them "The Carolina Twins." They were also known as "The Two-Headed Nightingale" and "The Eighth Wonder of the World." Millie and Christine traveled the world. They performed songs and dances for many people. They overcame many challenges in their lives. This included being enslaved and forced to perform.
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Early Life and Challenges
Millie and Christine were born in Whiteville, North Carolina. Their parents, Jacob and Monemia McKoy, were enslaved. They belonged to a blacksmith named Jabez McKay. The twins were born on July 11, 1851. Their mother had seven other children. All of them were born without being conjoined.
When the twins were just 10 months old, they were sold. A man named John C. Pervis bought them. He showed the girls to people for money. He then paid a part of that money to McKay. About a year later, they were sold again. This time, a showman named Brower bought them. He had help from a rich merchant, Joseph Pearson Smith.
Forced Performances and Kidnapping
Brower first showed the twins at North Carolina's state fair in 1853. People called them "freaks of nature." The fair was a big success for Brower. But soon, Brower was tricked. A man from Texas offered land to buy the twins. Brower sent the twins away. He waited for the land deeds. Then he realized he had been tricked.
Brower had lost everything. Joseph Pearson Smith became the new owner of the twins. Millie and Christine were managed by several people. But Smith found them again in Britain in 1857.
Freedom and Education
On January 1, 1863, something very important happened. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This document ended slavery for many people. Millie and Christine were no longer enslaved. They were finally free. Before this, they had been shown in many cities. They performed in fairs and shows in the U.S. and Canada.
Joseph Pearson Smith went to Britain to get the girls. He also brought their mother, Monemia, with him. The twins had been separated from her. Smith and his wife took good care of Millie and Christine. They made sure the girls got an education. They taught them to speak five different languages. They also learned to dance, play music, and sing beautifully.
While they were in Britain, they met Queen Victoria. This was a very special moment for them.
A Successful Career
For the rest of the 1800s, the twins had a very successful career. They were known as "The Two-Headed Nightingale." They even performed with the famous Barnum circus. In 1869, a book about their lives was sold. It was called History and Medical Description of the Two-Headed Girl.
Later, a court reporter named Joanne Fish Martell found a memoir. The girls had written it when they were 17. Martell used this and other facts to write her own book. It was called Millie-Christine: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. This book was published in 2000.
Overcoming Challenges
Millie and Christine had a special motto. It was: "As God decreed, we agreed." They tried to turn their challenges into strengths. When they were toddlers, they often tripped. But they learned to walk sideways. This turned into a dance style that audiences loved. They also learned to play keyboard duets. One twin sang soprano, and the other sang alto. They learned to harmonize their voices perfectly.
When they were in their 30s, the twins moved back home. They returned to the farm where they were born. Their father had bought the farm from Jabez McKay. He left it to his daughters.
Later Life and Legacy
Millie and Christine died on October 8, 1912. They were 61 years old. They both died from tuberculosis. Christine passed away 12 hours after her sister. They were first buried in unmarked graves. But in 1969, they were moved to a cemetery in Whiteville. Their tombstone has these words: "A soul with two thoughts. Two hearts that beat as one."
Their Biography
Around 1905, a biography of the sisters was written. It told about their childhood. It also shared how they were kidnapped and moved to England. Then it talked about their return to the U.S. and their later life. The book was only 22 pages long. It included letters from doctors. These letters confirmed that the twins were truly conjoined.
At the end of the book, the girls answered a question. Were they one person or two? They said, "Although we speak of ourselves in the plural we feel as but one person; in fact as such we have ever been regarded, although we bear the names Millie and Christina."
See also
In Spanish: Millie y Christine McCoy para niños
