On October 8, 1912, Millie McKoy, one of the conjoined twins known as Millie-Christine died. Christine, who could not be separated from her sister, died the following day.
The twins were born into slavery near Whiteville, in Columbus County, in 1851. During their lifetime physicians took great interest in their physiology, and after much study, determined that they shared portions of their pelvis and spinal cord. The twins were intelligent and although they were two separate personalities, they considered themselves one person.
Railroad lines even issued letters to conductors instructing them to require only one ticket for the “dual woman.” Exhibited initially as a curiosity, the twins eventually learned to sing and dance. Exceptionally talented singers, Mille-Christine was often billed as the “Carolina Nightingale.”
The twins were prosperous after emancipation and were able to purchase the property on which they were born. The built a ten-room house there where they lived between tours. Appearing around the world, the duo even performed for Britain’s Queen Victoria at one point. Buried near their home, their original lead grave marker read, “A soul with two thoughts. Two hearts that beat as one.”
Other resources related to Millie-Christine McKoy:
- North Carolina Connections, stories of conjoined twins from North Carolina’s history
- The History of the Carolina Twins from Documenting the American South project of the UNC-Chapel Hill Library
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