The Pollock Twins Reincarnation Case

On May 26, 1957, two young sisters were killed when a driver deliberately mounted a curb and struck them. A year later, their mother gave birth to twin girls who would display impossible knowledge of their dead sisters’ lives - recognizing toys they’d never seen, describing places they’d never been, and bearing birthmarks matching their siblings’ scars.

The Tragedy

May 26, 1957

In Hexham, Northumberland, Joanna Pollock (11) and Jacqueline Pollock (6) were walking to Sunday mass with a friend when a car driven by a disturbed woman deliberately struck them. Both sisters died instantly.

Their parents, John and Florence Pollock, were devastated.

John Pollock’s Belief

John Pollock was a devout Catholic who also believed in reincarnation - an unusual combination. After his daughters’ deaths, he became convinced they would return.

When Florence became pregnant, John insisted she would have twins, and they would be his daughters reborn. Despite no history of twins in either family and medical opinion suggesting a single birth, John was certain.

October 4, 1958

Florence gave birth to identical twin girls:

• Gillian (born first)
• Jennifer (born second)

John Pollock believed his prophecy was fulfilled.

The Evidence

Physical Marks

Jennifer, the younger twin, bore two distinctive birthmarks:

• A thin white line on her forehead, matching a scar Jacqueline had received from a fall
• A brown birthmark on her left hip, identical in location and shape to one Jacqueline had

Gillian bore no such marks. This matched the dead sisters - Jacqueline had the scar and birthmark; Joanna did not.

Early Behaviors

When the twins were three months old, the family moved to Whitley Bay, far from Hexham. The twins had no exposure to their sisters’ belongings or the family’s previous home.

Age Four: The Recognition

When the twins were about four years old, John retrieved some of Joanna and Jacqueline’s toys from storage. The twins had never seen these items.

Gillian immediately claimed a doll that had belonged to Joanna, calling it by the name Joanna had given it.

Jennifer claimed a doll that had been Jacqueline’s, also using the correct name.

Each twin claimed the “right” sister’s toys without prompting or confusion.

Memories of Hexham

Though they had moved away as infants, the twins demonstrated knowledge of Hexham:

• They identified locations they had never visited
• They described the school Joanna and Jacqueline had attended
• They named landmarks and places correctly
• They recognized their sisters’ friends in photographs

The Trauma Memory

Most disturbing, when walking near a parked car, both twins became agitated. They clung to each other, screaming:

“The car! It’s coming at us!”

Neither had been told the details of their sisters’ deaths.

Recognition of Items

Beyond the dolls, the twins recognized:

• Their sisters’ clothing
• Specific toys and their histories
• Personal items with no distinguishing features that would allow identification

Investigation

Dr. Ian Stevenson

The case attracted the attention of Dr. Ian Stevenson, head of the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia. Stevenson spent his career investigating cases suggestive of reincarnation.

He documented the Pollock case extensively:

• Interviewed the parents multiple times
• Verified the birthmark claims
• Documented the toy recognitions
• Recorded the location memories
• Found no normal explanation

Stevenson considered this one of the strongest Western reincarnation cases.

The Memories Fade

As with most reincarnation cases studied by Stevenson, the twins’ memories faded:

• By age five, the specific recognitions decreased
• By age seven, they no longer spoke of their “other life”
• As adults, they retain no memories of being Joanna and Jacqueline

This pattern - memories strongest between ages 2-5, fading afterward - is consistent across reincarnation cases worldwide.

The Parents’ Account

John Pollock

John remained convinced until his death that his daughters had returned:

• His prediction of twins was fulfilled
• The birthmarks matched Jacqueline’s marks
• The behavioral evidence was overwhelming to him
• He saw it as proof of the soul’s continuity

Florence Pollock

Florence was initially skeptical:

• She didn’t share John’s belief in reincarnation
• The predictions seemed impossible
• The evidence eventually convinced her
• She accepted that something extraordinary had occurred

Skeptical Analysis

Coincidence

Critics suggest:

• The birthmarks could be coincidental
• Twins having matching marks is common
• Parents may have unconsciously cued the children

Parental Influence

John’s strong beliefs may have:

• Created expectations the twins fulfilled
• Caused selective memory about what was “recognized”
• Biased the family’s interpretation of events

Memory Construction

The twins may have:

• Absorbed information without conscious memory
• Overheard conversations about their sisters
• Constructed “memories” from family talk

Counter-Arguments

Defenders of the case note:

• The family moved when twins were three months old
• The toys were in storage, not discussed
• The birthmarks cannot be explained by psychological factors
• The trauma reaction occurred spontaneously

Significance

The Pollock case is considered significant because:

Western Setting Unlike most reincarnation cases (which come from cultures that believe in rebirth), this occurred in Christian England.

Contemporary Documentation The case was investigated while the twins were young.

Physical Evidence The birthmarks provide something beyond testimony.

Controlled Conditions The family’s move meant the twins had no exposure to the prior life’s environment.

Distinguished Investigator Stevenson’s rigorous methodology lent credibility.

The Twins Today

Gillian and Jennifer grew up normally:

• They married and had children
• Neither retains memories of being their sisters
• Both have participated in documentaries about the case
• They accept something unusual happened without claiming to understand it

What Does It Mean?

The Pollock case raises profound questions:

If Reincarnation:

• How do two souls return as twins?
• Why did memories fade?
• What is the relationship between Gillian/Joanna and Jennifer/Jacqueline?

If Not Reincarnation:

• How did Jennifer acquire Jacqueline’s birthmarks?
• How did the twins know about their sisters’ lives?
• What explains the recognition events?

Legacy

The Pollock twins remain among the most studied and discussed reincarnation cases:

• Featured in dozens of books
• Subject of television documentaries
• Cited in academic papers on consciousness
• A cornerstone case for reincarnation researchers

Two little girls died on a street in Hexham. A year later, two little girls were born who seemed to remember being them. Whether souls returning, memories somehow transmitted, or an elaborate series of coincidences, the Pollock twins challenge our understanding of identity, death, and what - if anything - comes after.