Millie-Christine Collection, PC.266

Millie-Christine McKoy (1851-1912) were children of slave parents Jacob and Monemia [McKoy] owned by Jabez McKoy, a blacksmith, of Columbus County. The twins were united "by their backbones...the band of union is between 16 and 17 inches in circumference, involving at least the bones of the sacrum and coccyx immovable, and all probability united the sacral nerves and spinal cords, so as to constitute one individual, or two girls with one nervous system." [Dr. John Lizars, Royal Informary of Edinburgh, quoted in advertising broadside, January 19, 1857.]
In 1852, the ten-month old twins were sold to John C. Purvis of Chesterfield District, S.C. for $1,000 with Jabez McKoy retaining the rights to 1/4 of the exhibition proceeds and offering to permit the mother to travel with the twins. If the twins were sold, McKoy was to receive 1/4 the sale price and the mother was to be returned to him. In 1853, for $200, McKoy relinquished all rights to exhibition proceeds. [Columbus County Deed Book K, p. 476; Book L, pgs. 138-139.
At an early age, Millie-Christine was separated from her parents and exhibited from town to town, often being forced to be examined naked in front of large crowds. Eventually, however, she was reunited with her parents and prospered as a performer. With the help of decent managers, she learned to read and write in at least 5 languages and to play the piano, touring all over the world performing and exhibiting not only her self, but her talents as well. Millie-christine never married, eventually settling into a home on the same land she was born on, in Welches Creek. It was there that she died October 9 and 10 in 1912.
In this collection are newspaper clippings and advertisements recounting a Professor W. J. L. Millar's exhibitions of Millie-Christine from mid-1855 when he found them in Boston, purchased them from a 'spotted woman," exhibited them in Canada, and sailed for Liverpool on January 1, 1855.
Millar, a performer (magician) and theatrical manager, exhibited the girls in England and Scotland until February 1857, when they, according to Millar, were spirited away by Joseph Pearson Smith of Wadesboro, N.C. and their mother. Newspaper clippings and notes from his son Bertram, indicate that Millar was performing in Scotland and England in 1862-1864, with his wife, a singer, and that Mille-Christine--billed as "the famous two-headed Negress" were performing in New York City as late as January, 1891. [On October 31, 1866, the "Carolina Twins" were in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng Bunker. See Irving and Amy Wallace, The Two, 1978.]
The census of 1870 lists the parents of Millie-Christine (Jacob and Menenah [Monemia] McKoy, 7 children (not counting Millie-christine), and a Milley Green, aged 70. Jacob McKoy's will of May 3, 1888 (probated April 18, 1891) named his wife and children, including "Milla Christine." Estates papers indicate that Milla-Christine received 22 of the father's total 78 acres, including Jacob's dwelling house. Referring to themselves as "I" in a will of September, 1912, "Millia Christine McKoy" named as heir "my beloved sister Clarrah Yeoman" and on her death three nieces, including Millia christine Chancy." The recorded will signed Millie-Christine was probated October 15, 1912.

Collection Contents

Millar, W. J. L.

Millie-Christine, 1851-1912.

McKoy Family

Siamese Twins

Exhibitions

AFRICAN TWINS

Children

African Americans

People with Disabilities

Children with Disabilities

Disabilities

Columbus County (N.C.)

Gift