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Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Little Known Fact~Milly and Christine McCoy

The story of Milly and Christine McCoy is unknown to many and only a small number can truthfully say they know the story.

The co-joined twins were borne on 11 July 1851. At the age of 10 months, the twins were sold to John C. Purvis of Chesterfield, South Carolina. Thus John acquired the twins about May 1852.

On 10 March 1854, John C. Purvis transferred the twins to J. P. Smith of Anson County. This change of ownership was documented in Deed Book 15, page 132, Anson County, North Carolina.

They were well cared for and educated during their youth and became free women in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation.

The twins traveled the world entertaining their audiences with song and dance. They were billed as:
  • "The Carolina Twins",
  • "The Two-Headed Nightingale"
  • "The Eighth Wonder of the World"
As co-joined twins they lived a long life;  dying from Tuberculosis on 8 October 1912, at the age of 61. Millie was first to pass with Christine dying about 12 hours later.





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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_and_Christine_McKoy
[2] https://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/millie-christine/summary.html
[3] Deed - J. C. Purvis to J. P. Smith; 10 March 1854; Deed Book #15; Page(s) 132; Register of Deeds; Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina; 3 January 2010.

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