Ca 1865-1870. CDV with backmark of Boston photographer S. Masury. Born in Thailand (Siam) in 1811, the conjoined twins Chang and Eng (who later took "Bunker" as a surname after becoming naturalized Americans) gave their birthplace and condition, "Siamese twins" to generations of westerners. "Discovered" by British merchant Robert Hunter in 1829, he paid their family to exhibit them on a world tour. After their agreed-upon tour, they went into business for themselves and were quite successful. In 1839, they visited Wilkesboro, NC, liked the area, and decided to settle on a farm in nearby Traphill. They married sisters, Chang to Adelaide Yates, Eng to Sarah Anne Yates, and bought slaves to help on the 110-acre plantation. Chang had 10 children, Eng, 11. Initially the families lived amicably in one house, but later frictions (maybe inevitable with the growing families) resulted in them building two separate dwellings near each other, and the twins spending three days each week at each home. This photo depicts James and Albert Bunker with their fathers. Being southern residents, Christopher (Chang's son) and Steven (Eng's son) fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. The families lost land (and their slaves, of course) after the war, creating a serious hardship and ill feelings toward the Union government. They returned to public exhibitions, but with less success than previously. Chang died rather suddenly in Jan. 1874 of pneumonia. Eng refused to be separated from him, even though doctors were called to perform the emergency surgery, and he died later the same day. Condition: Light soiling and toning, else very good with square corners.
Ca 1865-1870. CDV with backmark of Boston photographer S. Masury. Born in Thailand (Siam) in 1811, the conjoined twins Chang and Eng (who later took "Bunker" as a surname after becoming naturalized Americans) gave their birthplace and condition, "Siamese twins" to generations of westerners. "Discovered" by British merchant Robert Hunter in 1829, he paid their family to exhibit them on a world tour. After their agreed-upon tour, they went into business for themselves and were quite successful. In 1839, they visited Wilkesboro, NC, liked the area, and decided to settle on a farm in nearby Traphill. They married sisters, Chang to Adelaide Yates, Eng to Sarah Anne Yates, and bought slaves to help on the 110-acre plantation. Chang had 10 children, Eng, 11. Initially the families lived amicably in one house, but later frictions (maybe inevitable with the growing families) resulted in them building two separate dwellings near each other, and the twins spending three days each week at each home. This photo depicts James and Albert Bunker with their fathers. Being southern residents, Christopher (Chang's son) and Steven (Eng's son) fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. The families lost land (and their slaves, of course) after the war, creating a serious hardship and ill feelings toward the Union government. They returned to public exhibitions, but with less success than previously. Chang died rather suddenly in Jan. 1874 of pneumonia. Eng refused to be separated from him, even though doctors were called to perform the emergency surgery, and he died later the same day. Condition: Light soiling and toning, else very good with square corners.
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