 Hasted 's arguments were largely accepted by influential historian Robert Chambers , and the story was generally treated as a folk myth . A letter to the British Medical Journal in 1869 pointed out that surnames were not in use in Kent in the 12th century , and that in older styles of English handwriting the 1 and 5 characters could easily be confused , and suggested a correct birthdate of 1500 . The Biddenden Maids were occasionally mentioned in pieces on conjoined twins , particularly after Chang and Eng Bunker proved that conjoined twins could live to an advanced age and lead relatively normal lives . Notes and Queries magazine called in 1866 for a close examination of Biddenden documents , the editors describing Hasted 's conclusions as " very obscure and unsatisfactory " and questioning why the names " Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst " should have been added to the design of cakes granted by a family named Preston , but no significant research into the tradition was carried out . 
 Hasted <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>arguments <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> largely accepted by influential historian Robert Chambers , and the story was generally treated as a folk myth . A letter to the British Medical Journal in 1869 pointed out that surnames <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>not</mark></a>in <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>use</mark></a> in Kent in the 12th century , and that in older styles of English handwriting the 1 and 5 characters could easily be confused , and suggested a correct birthdate of 1500 . The Biddenden Maids <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> occasionally mentioned in pieces on conjoined twins , particularly after Chang and Eng Bunker proved that conjoined twins could live to an advanced age and lead relatively normal lives . Notes and Queries magazine called in 1866 for a close examination of Biddenden documents , the editors describing Hasted <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>conclusions as " very obscure and unsatisfactory " and questioning why the names " Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst " should <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>have</mark></a> been added to the design of cakes granted by a family named Preston , but no significant research into the tradition was carried out . 
Hasted  arguments was largely accepted by influential historian Robert Chambers , and da story was generally treated as a folk myth . A letter to tdaBritish Medical Journal in 1869 pointed outt that surnames ain't in no use in Kent in thda2th century , and that in older styles of English handwriting the 1 and 5 characters could easily b confused , and suggested a correct birthdate of 1500 . The Biddenden Maids was occasionally mentioned in pieces on conjoined twins , particularly after Chang and Eng Bunker proved dat conjoined twins could live to an advanced age and lead relatively normal lives . Notes and Queries magazine called in 1866 for a close examination of Biddenden documents , the editors describing Hasted  conclusions as " very obscure and unsatisfactory " and questioning y thedames " Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst " should done been added to the daign of cakes granted by a family named Preston , but no significant research into the tradition was carried out .