Oldest triplets ever were named by US First Lady after parents struggled to pick names

These extraordinary siblings didn’t just share a birthday, they also made history together as the oldest triplets ever. 

On 18 May 1899, on a tiny farm in Elm Mott, Texas, USA, three baby girls were born, and caught their parents Elza and Eliza Cardwell by surprise, as they had only been expecting one. Two of the triplets were born before the doctor arrived, and he helped deliver the last one. 

Since the Texas parents were only expecting one, they struggled to come up with names, so the girls lived a whole six months before they officially had names. It was actually US President Grover Cleveland’s wife, the First Lady Frances Cleveland, who named them Faith, Hope, and Charity Cardwell. 

The Cardwell sisters always shared a close-knit bond and loved spending time with each other. On their 84^th birthday, the girls were asked about their upbringing, and how their relationship blossomed when growing up. UPI reports that Faith said: “We've always been together on every birthday. Now, one time, one of the girls, Hope, was sick in the hospital, but we had a cake baked and we went there with her.” 

Out of the triplets, Charity and Faith were identical to the point that it's hard to tell them apart, but Hope didn’t look as much like her sisters, although they often shared a similar sense of style and wore very similar clothes until they got married. 

Their wedding days were another thing that they shared, and it all happened in the same year. 1919 saw Hope and Charity marry their new husbands in a double ceremony, and Faith was also married a couple months later. 

Sadly, these amazing siblings have now passed away after many years of happiness shared between them. Faith died on 2 October 1994 at the age of 95 years and 137 days. Charity died on 6 January 1995, aged 95 years and 233 days. The last triplet to pass away was Hope on 15 January 1997 at the age of 97 years and 242 days. 

With a combined age of 288 years and 247 days, the Cardwell triplets hold the Guinness World Records title for oldest triplets (ever). Although the Cardwells are no longer with us, their legacy will continue to live on. 

Read more stories like this in our Human Body section.

These are not the only siblings who have made record-breaking history together, as on 2 November 2023, three new individuals were verified as the oldest living triplets (male). 

These triplet brothers were born on 1 December 1930 in Kansas, USA, and were named Larry Alden Brown, Lon Bernard Brown, and Gene Carol Brown.  

On the triplet’s 93^rd birthday, GWR caught up with Larry to learn a little about what it was like growing up as a triplet. Larry told GWR that they weren’t just brothers – they were friends, and that they were incredibly close growing up. He added that being in their 90s, it was more difficult to catch up with each other due to ill health, but the brothers always try to have an annual reunion. 

Last up is one more set of triplets, Betty Woolf, Minna Passman, and Joseph Hockey, who set the Guinness World Records title for oldest living triplets (mixed) back in 2020. 

These triplets were born in 1928 in New York City, USA, and when their record was verified, they were 93 years and 174 days old. 

The triplets moved away from each other later in life, but each year would always reunite to celebrate their birthday together. 

Sadly, all three of them are no longer with us, Minna passed away in 2021 aged 94, Joseph passed away at 95 in 2023, and Betty later that same year at the age of 96. 

At the passing of Betty, her daughter Nancy shared a heartfelt tribute, saying: “She will be remembered for her style, her vitality, and her loving nature.”