What Happened to Dr. Thomas Hicks? 'Taken at Birth' True Story Mama told me they ran the doctor out of Tennessee after that because he was killing so many babies. After years of wondering about her birth family, will Diane finally have closure? Dr. Thomas Hicks McCAYSVILLE, Ga. - Services for Dr. Thomas J. Hicks, Sr., 83, of McCaysville will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Finch's Chapel here, burial in Crestlawn Cemetery in Copperhill, Tenn. Dr. Hicks, who operated Hicks' Clinic from around 1945 until he retired in 1965, died of leukemia Sunday. This man told women that their babies had died or were stillborn. At the other end of the transaction, adoptive parents drove to a window in the alley behind the clinic, shelled out $1,000 or morebig money for the timeand were handed a newborn. The good Dr told the mother they were still born. You people have no idea how many states/commonwealths this Hicks was in., he was known in the mountains of Pa as Hickscock. These include the nurse, the secretary who signed the false documents, Hicks lawyer, and the sheriff who investigated Hicks illegal abortion clinic. The Hicks babies were babies sold by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks to different families. Have you heard the story of Dr. Hicks? This type of adoption is just one way that many babies are adopted through illegal, black market adoptions. 'Taken at Birth' lead Jane Blasio Q&A: Akron woman blew - Cleveland Blasio has dedicated her life to helping reunite Hicks Babies with their biological families. Test prices are here: https://thednageek.com/dna-tests/ However, only four of his siblings survived to adulthood. The source for today's story was the book The Hicks Family Tree; The Magnificent Journey of Our Branch of the Hicks Family Tree, 1455 to 2011, and The Families That Made a Difference, written by Gale Hicks Thompson and Bob G. Hicks. Father of Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Jr; Dr Walter Lynn Hicks and Private We dont know anything about the adults he has seen. She carried him to full term and went to Dr Hicks to deliver her baby! i was told i was born in raymond wa. Well he and Alannas birth father very similar. Just keeping an RN on duty, even in the 1950s -60s, was a big expense. Such an evil man to cause such heart ache! Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Ideas for Getting Responses from DNA Matches. In 2014, around 30 suspected Hicks Babies traveled to Tennessee to undergo DNA testing. Dr Harshi Dhingra is a licensed medical doctor with a specialization in Pathology. Some birth mothers knew they were placing a baby for adoption, some thought they had an abortion, and some were told their . Apparently these women were seeking abortions, not babies. It includes a handout, plenty of time for questions and discussion, and access to the recording for 2 weeks. Sims Family Tree View These Best Collection, Mishima Family Tree Find Best Design For You. What years was he operating in TN, and where? Blasio blew the whistle back in the 1990s. Are you nuts? I hope youre able to solve your case soon. "Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNX9-1PS: 4 December 2014), Thos J Hicks and Chassie Copeland, 07 Jun 1917; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: 2008); citing p. 222, Polk, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee. The so-called Hicks Babies had falsified birth certificates, and Dr Hicks kept no records tying them to their biological families. Theyre an invaluable resource for parentage searches. They wanted to be rid of their babies and were desperate. Starting in 1955 and running through the early 1960s, Hicks offered secretive abortions and adoptions here. He was married and had three children. While its true that some of the adults who were adopted as babies are using DNA to discover their biological origins, it is not because they suspect a biological connection to the Hicks family. Taken at Birth: The Hicks Clinic Stolen Babies, Best Food Sensitivity Test To Take At Home (2023), The Best DNA Tests (for Health, Ancestry, and Ethnicity), Best At-Home Allergy & Intolerance Tests (2023), We Took The Viome Gut Test Heres Our Verdict. Some were children of women Hicks convinced not to have abortions. In these cases, Hicks would forge a birth certificate and give the baby to adoptive parents in secret from his Georgia clinic. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn more about yourself. Copyright 2023 The DNA Geek Ascension WordPress theme by, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), New TLC Special Taken At Birth Dives into Shocking Hicks Babies Black Market Adoption Scandal, Babies For Sale: The Secret Adoptions That Haunt One Georgia Town, Hicks Baby Adoptee Sold by Georgia Doctor 50 Years Ago Reunites With Birth Mother, Brother, Busted not for selling babies, but for the abortion clinic, 23andMe Introduces the Automated Family Tree , The Hicks Babies The DNA Geek | Ups and Downs of Family History V2.0, https://thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/, Book Review: I Know Who You Are, by Barbara Rae-Venter, Up Your DNA Game With New Courses in 2023, Verogen Increases Costs for Law Enforcement Again, A Board of Certification for Investigative Genetic Genealogy Is Announced. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (. I do truly feel for the Hicks babies for not knowing; I know that must be hard. My parents were young and married and wanted their first son! Im sorry but thats a totally twisted way of thinking in my view!! I can attest to the fact that some of the mothers were married (yes, to the biological fathers) at the time their infants were sold. my sister some how never got the gene or blood of him. Babies were handed out to them through the door or window. We will never know the hell they have suffered. Aside from families that might eventually tell their adult children, the only hope Hicks babies have of finding their biological relatives is DNA tracking. 1997. Some of Hicks Babies, as they are sometimes referred to as, have done DNA tests in order to identify relatives who might be able to help them learn who their birth parents were. Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, the man behind the Hicks Babies, ran a small clinic in the tiny town of McCaysville, Georgia. 23andMe is on sale right now. The news captivated many outside McCaysville. How many women died themselves never knowing that they had a child or children out there and how many children, now adults, will never know their biological parents because its just too late and most of them have passed? I cannot imagine being one of these babies. Are you kidding me. How HEARTLESS can someone be then to tell a parent their childTHEIR CHILD died just so he could profit? Hicks' wife and son had already passed away. As I say, not perfect, but a good man, Doris Abernathy told WKYC. These women often came away from faraway places. He lied to those women whether they wanted their children or not. There is no evidence that any of the babies that were adopted through the actions of Dr. Hicks are related to him. Thomas Hicks was a well-respected doctor in the small town of McCaysville, Georgia. 1910 - Civil District 10, Sullivan, Tennessee, USA, Lucy E Hicks, Carrie E Hicks, Laura A Hicks, David Fleming Hicks, Mary Louise Hicks (born Holt), Thomas Jugarthy Hicks Jr, Walter Lynn Hicks, Margaret Mary Brown (born Hicks), est Hicks, Lucy Elizabeth Ketron (born Hicks), John William Hicks, Hicks, Carrie Ellen Dickson (born Hicks), Anna Laura Bradley (born Hicks), Samuel Ernest Hicks, Lucy Elizabeth Ketron, John William Hicks, Unknown Hicks, Carrie Ellen Dickson, Anna Laura Bradley (born Hicks), Samuel Earnest Hicks, Lucy Elizabeth Hicks, John William Hicks, Unknown Hicks, Carrie Ellen Dickson (born Hicks), Annie Laurie Hicks, Lucy E Hicks, Carrie Ellen Hicks, Anna Laura Wisdom Bradley (born Hicks), Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Walter Lynn Hicks, Margaret Brown (born Hicks), Mary Edith Rogers Davis, Thomas J Jr Hicks, W Lynn Hicks, Margaret Hicks, Bloomingdale, Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States, Copperhill, Polk County, Tennessee, United States, Crestlawn, Polk County, Tennessee, United States. Now fast forward 50 years, memories are skewed, you feel differently now, maybe you wish things were different. The primary purpose of this post is to explain how those children who were adopted through the Hicks Clinic have been able to use their DNA to discover close relatives, and sometimes, the identities of their biological parents. Estimates show Hicks sold about 200 babies from the 1940s to the 1960s.3. Even though Dr. Hicks is not suspected to be biologically related to any of the Hicks Babies, some people might find his ancestry and family tree to be of interest. Hicks' wife and son had already passed away. My husband and I said the same thing while watching this show! Many had no idea they were adopted until well into adulthood. #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, begins TONIGHT at 9/8c. And then today, with abortions being legal, aborted babies are having their body parts SOLD what a repugnant thought. Those few cases were a woman gave birth knowing she did not want the baby, and Dr. Hicks found someone wanting to adopt, are far and few between! The adoptive parents paid $1,000 for the baby, and Hicks would provide housing for the mothers for several months at his farm, a hotel, his apartments or a telephone company building, according to Appalachian History. They were not, and he sold those babies. The cost is the same for you. Now, they are using the power of DNA to reunite with their biological families. The second would have been no later than 1962. Tune in to #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, starting TONIGHT at 9/8c. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks performed abortions in the 1950s, long before abortions were legalized in Roe v. Wade. She always thought she had a boy out there somewhere. How would you feel if you found out a child your told was dead is actually alive I wish Hicks was alive to stand trial for what he did, he had no right. A sick, twisted & greedy man. Hicks descendants began a migration south from Virginia during late It sickens me to see any one make what he did look OKAY! Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr (1888 - 1972) - geni family tree. The extra mouths to feed were simply too expensive. The method of the illegal adoptions has left many questions for those who started their lives in Hicks clinic. i come from to sides of a family that are both messed up. It may have started with good intentions, but these babies deserve the truth and they deserve it now. In this post, learn who the Hicks Babies are, how they got their name, and how some of them are using DNA to discover their biological origins. Hed do anything for anybody sometimes hed pay a price for it, she said. Dr. Hicks had a granddaughter, Sally Sompayrac, who empathizes with the plight of the Hicks babies. Looking for a DNA test that's accurate and can tell you about your health and heritage? Moves to NE Ohio and then to Michigan from 1868 to this day. He delivered my oldest brother. He wasnt going around knocking girls up and holding them hostage in his apartment until they delivered their babies so he could sell them.. Bragg, Rick. He was born in April 1964 Sumner County TN from what he knows. TLC My Dad was a black-market baby in 1941 in Akron OH. All of Dr. Hicks grandparents were born in Tennessee, as were many of his great-grandparents. Perhaps your dad was referring to the equipment used to save preemies. His parents were David Fleming Hicks and Mary Louise Holt. It is possible that deaths like these convinced Dr. Hicks that something needed to be done.. Thankful for the granddaughter who went beyond what most would have to get answers. Blasio went on to help dozens of Hicks babies so they could track down their birth parents and relatives. TLC's Taken at Birth, which first aired in 2019, is a three-part . TLC's 'Taken at Birth' Investigates Black Market Adoption Ring - People She grieved her the rest of her life for her first born son. Why dig up a grave when dna could have given these people the answer if they were siblings? Hicks was the beloved town doctor in the tiny mountain town of McCaysville, but women came from miles around to seek his services. There are always three sides to any story: One side, the other side, and the truth (which is usually somewhere in between). What people dont realize is Doc Hicks started his practice in Tennessee. Dr Thomas Hicks Family Tree Do You Know These Top Templates? My Mama and Daddy were young parents and though they were very poor they both wanted their first born with all their heart! amd im 13 so i have a long way to go . I do hope your brother survived and is out there somewhere. My mother/father picked me up from a nurse in a hotel in 1967. Sompayrac believes her grandfathers actions helped the birth mothers in need and gave the babies life. can you imagine waking up one day to find out accidently that you were adopted and come to find out through this show or other means that your wife is your sister or first cousin? Read our best DNA test page to find the best one for you. discoveries. I am from Tennessee before Dr Hicks moved across the state line to McCaysville Ga. My parents lived together for 62 years and went on to have seven more children but my Mama grieved the rest of her life for the son she lost! In 2020 a 4lb baby as a very good chance of not making it even with amazing NICUs in todays age. Blasio knew she was adopted at a young age. He delivered many babies in Tennessee before they ran him out of the state. What Was the Immigration Process at Ellis Island Like? As a result, he could not provide information that would help the babies find their parents or the other way around.4. His parents were David Fleming Hicks and Mary Louise Holt. https://thednageek.com/dna-tests. You should be ashamed of yourself because you have no idea of the pain he caused many families! Many of the Hicks babies also began searching for their biological families. If you fully watched the documentary you would know that almost all the babies were 4lbs at birth weight or even SMALLER and he was doing this to hurry along the money. He lied to many and told them their babies died! So for that reason, I think were putting too much faith in these womens stories. After watching this documentary I can see how he got away with it for so long. The truth about the adoptions came to light in 1997, more than two decades after his death, as some of the Hicks Babies began seeking out their biological parents. 'Black market baby' meets biological father in Gallatin Hicks was forced to give up his medical license in 1964 after being charged with performing illegal abortions, and he died in 1972 at the age of 83. Dr. Dhingra has of over a decade in diagnostic, clinical, research and teaching work, including managing all sections of Pathology laboratory including histopathology, cytology, hematology and clinical Pathology. I have so many thoughts racing through my mind. And most of these women were likely unmarried, which was a huge no-no at the time. But lets be honest, no one is going to admit that they willingly sold their baby. Our filters are much different than the ones from that period of time. I am watching the TV documentary on Dr. Hicks and do not believe he should be so vilified. Hicks was providing a service, Ken Rush, director of the Ducktown Basin Museum, told Narratively. Barbara, I shuttered when I read your comment! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186644/Adopted-woman-51-SO Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr worked as Physician. Then hed place a baby in their arms. Just watched the documentary. These babies were born between weighing only 3.5 and 4.75 lbs.. ALL very unfavorable conditions!!!! The biological mothers of these individuals were persuaded to give their babies up for adoption and they were allegedly sold to their adoptive parents through the Hicks Clinic, owned by Dr. Hicks. Theres a documentary on the Hicks Babies that Im assuming you havent seen. They werent all there for abortions!! What he was doing in a lot of cases is absolutely wrong because of stuff like this. Despite the illegality of the abortions, Hicks would advertise the service at phone booths, bus stations and bridges, according to Appalachian History. Her name is Alana honey boo boo if you dont know who she is you can google her. You have several options when it comes to learning about your DNA, KnowYourDNA is the best source for finding all things related to DNA. These folks deserve to know where they came from! now that im older and i actually understand what happened i think its horrible. If there was no demand for the service, Hicks would not have been doing it. I did see it just yesterday. Town Secret Is Uncovered In Birth Quest - The New York Times No one with half a brain can even think that is good. Instead of killing the children he delivered live infants, told the mothers their babies were dead, and gave the babies away to parents who wanted them. I have hicks show up in my DNA results. Husband of Chass Chassie Hicks Women who wanted abortions would be talked into keeping the pregnancy so he could sell the baby once it arrived. Who is Jane Blasio, and what really went on with her adoption? - YourTango saying the baby was stillborn could have been nothing more than a cover story for them. I still dont know, one of the Hicks Babies, Melinda, told the publication. Some of those in his town defend his actions, according to Narratively, saying he was providing a service. The biological mother was not mentioned, and there was no court record or other official document connecting the babies to their biological parents. And he gave the babies to equally desperate childless parents. The Hicks babies seemed to have mixed feelings about his actions from the Narratively profile. What Does It Mean If You Have 1% Native American DNA? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. How can you condone that? These lists include people who are genetically related to us. #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, begins Wednesday at 9/8c. He was a good man, a good-hearted man. There is living proof, with dna, of one man, who along with his twin brother, was reported dead and buried by Dr. Hicks. You arent responsible for their sins. I agree totally with you.This all sounds awful. He was born October 18, 1888. In next week's column, this family's lineage will be continued with the family and history of Samuel Hicks (2). I may have a couple brothers out there. I know your heart aches. Im sure there are also many, many Hicks babies out there that have no idea they are Hicks babies. They were all corrupt! For perspective, $1000 in 1950 is equal to about $10,900 in todays dollars. What he did was awful feel so bad for those mothers and children. Jane needs to get a DNA test and compare it to Doris Abernathy, the town historian. What is the Egypt DNA Region on Ancestry? Would love your thoughts, please comment. She noted to the TV station many of them went to good homes and led successful lives. Mama never got over this. New TLC Special Taken At Birth Dives into Shocking Hicks Babies Black Market Adoption Scandal. Thank goodness your grandmother was there and knew what to do. My Hicks line starts in New York in 1833. Busted not for selling babies, but for the abortion clinic. He ran the Hicks Community Clinic and offered his services to poor copper mining families. Who is Parent 1 or Parent 2 on Ancestry DNA? If he is out there and looking he may have tried the dna route. Chang, Juju, Jasmine Brown, Geoff Martz and Lauren Effron. Im so sorry for your familys loss. If so, login to add it. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Hicks performed illegal abortions in the 1950s and 1960s, along with the illegal adoptions, until he faced legal troubles in 1964 for the abortions. I so agree with you. She grieved for him her entire life! Yes, thats a horrible thought. All in all, I cannot condemn him. Are you for real?? Would love to have help, Im mr.hicks grate grate grand daughter sadly, hes from my moms side of the family. He induced birth prematurely to make money. I hope all the people that are involved will find what ever it is they are looking for. Yes. About 15 of the 200+ babies have been reunited with their biological parents. Until Mother's Day 1997, when his adoptions were exposed. In the documentary they have a positive match for Dr Hicks fathering one of the babies. Interesting. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks died at age 83 on March 5, 1972, after a battle with leukemia. I am the youngest of seven siblings. Those who were adopted have few places to turn to track down their origins. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSZD-WWR: accessed 10 April 2021), Thos J Hicks in household of D Flem Hicks, Civil District 10, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 110, sheet 7A, family 118 Who was Thomas J. Hicks? In other cases, he said their babies were stillborn and died before or during delivery. Wow! He would then sell those babies, for prices as high as $1000, to couples who wanted to adopt. in Psychology and enjoys writing about health and wellness. On the documentary the officer in the second episode claimed he gave a relative of his a shot and she died 30min later. Ignorance is a terrible thing smh!!!! The series tells the story of a man that stole over 200 babies and sold them on the black market. I grew up with this story from my grandfather when i was little. With that said, what we know, sounds evil, but that is based on times being much different. I understand the concept of not being able to conceive and being grateful to receive a child but that was not a win/win situation by any stretch of the imagination. His family did not live like they had money in fact most of his money appeared to be put right back into the town of McKaysville into businesses which kept folks employed and kept the town thriving. Son of David Fleming Hicks and Mary Louise Hicks That seems to be a repetitive theme amongst the living relatives. Youre as crazy as he was if you think he should even get a pat on the back for his time and services. At-home DNA testing wasnt available until recently. The story has been featured in many TV specials, including on TLCs, Taken At Birth, which originally aired in 2019. Dr Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was posthumously accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. This man was worse than the plague! Hopefully he got his comeuppance. Dr. Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was posthumously accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. He surrendered his Georgia medical license to halt his prosecution.2. He died at age 83 in 1972 of leukemia, according to Appalachian History. Dr. Hicks was married and had two kids a son and a daughter. I just wanted to say I watch this show about a little girl. I am wondering if any possible hicks babies that have not found relatives has DNA done? Shameful + Sinful + Criminal + Evil!! He was arrested for performing illegal abortions in 1964. What he did was completely illegal, but was it less moral than aborting these babies? Blasio confirmed with the county birth records that she was likely one of the hundreds of babies sold between 1950 and 1965.2. The source for today's story was the book The Hicks Family Tree; The Magnificent Journey of Our Branch of the Hicks Family Tree, 1455 to 2011, and The Families That Made a Difference, written by Gale Hicks Thompson and Bob G. Hicks. HE WAS A HORRIBLE MAN, JUST HORRIBLE!!! But advocates hope it will someday happen. First of all, it was a small town clinic and back then it was not unheard of for any woman in a small town to go to a clinic to deliver their baby so to say hes some kind of hero for what he did is beyond disgusting. Dr. Hicks served as a town doctor in McCaysville, Ga., and was known for performing abortions, which were illegal at the time. The truth about the adoptions came to light in 1997, more than two decades after his death, as some of the Hicks Babies began seeking out their biological parents. I am a mother of a baby born in 2016 at 30 weeks 3lbs in an amazing NICU I couldnt imagine if my son was born in his condition back then. I submitted my DNA in hopes that I might find my brother or some of his family. 'Taken At Birth': Dr. Thomas J. Hicks & Stolen Babies [2021 Update] We only know about the ones who survived. This was rural Appalachia in the 50s and 60s, a lot of poor families. There was a tip-off, though. Buying or selling A CHILDTHERE IS EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THAT! Despite the obstacles, the investigative team - with the blessing and cooperation of the Hicks Babies community - works tirelessly to try and bring answers to the families impacted by Dr. Hicks' actions, from conventional DNA searches and door-to-door interrogations, to a mausoleum search. This is the process by which it was alleged to have worked: The doctor would advertise adoption services and prenatal care, in addition to care related to the termination of pregnancies, in the local community and surrounding areas. I dont know the truth, the people involved back THEN know. They look exactly alike. He was a monster, a murderer, and a kidnapper, but he wasnt a good man doing a good thing for helpless women. There was no reason not to dig up his grave. Just horrible! I owe my life to him, but he has also been the cause of so much pain and suffering. Dr. Hicks died of leukemia in 1972 at the age of 83. Dr. Hicks was married and had two children, a son and a daughter. Hicks was performing abortions long before Roe. Just one grandparent can lead you to many
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