Several of the Hicks Babies found the mausoleum was vandalized when they paid a visit in 2018. He also told the mothers that their babies died, gave them death certificates but then sold the baby out the back door for $1000. Hicks' wife and son had already passed away. I have had two of my children die. Decades-old secret adoptions solved by modern DNA for Akron area - WKYC Several in the town told the outlet the story was sensationalized. He would sell the babies to parents who wanted to adopt but couldnt afford to do so legally. Hicks died at age 83 in 1972. The good Dr told the mother they were still born. 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. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks died at age 83 on March 5, 1972, after a battle with leukemia. Both of Dr. Hicks' parents were born in Tennessee. i never thought it was real when i was little either. What he did was completely illegal, but was it less moral than aborting these babies? Besides his charitable practices, he performed unauthorized abortions. 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. It sickens me to see any one make what he did look OKAY! With the judges help, she learned that the clinic sold babies while they were still open. Could you imagine carrying your baby a whole pregnancy having a nursery all set up and you go to the hospital deliver your baby and be lied to that your baby died smh Im speechless. He delivered my oldest brother. The so-called Hicks Babies had falsified birth certificates, and Dr Hicks kept no records tying them to their biological families. 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 hope youre able to solve your case soon. Have you taken a DNA test yourself? She did not go to him for an abortion or to give her baby away. Barbara, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. They did have several that admitted they went in for an abortion Im sure the guy was no saint, but i think he was saving these babies. There was a tip-off, though. Hicks Baby Adoptee Sold by Georgia Doctor 50 Years Ago Reunites With Birth Mother, Brother. I so agree with you. I came from a messed up family, too. It was a horrible thing he did to my parents and the rest of us when he stole my oldest brother! Such an evil man to cause such heart ache! #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, begins Wednesday at 9/8c. What years was he operating in TN, and where? 23andMe is on sale right now. Dr Hicks quickly hushed the nurse and gave my grandma something to make her sleep. He surrendered his Georgia medical license to halt his prosecution.2. His wife was a Baptist Sunday school teacher, according to PEOPLE. And then today, with abortions being legal, aborted babies are having their body parts SOLD what a repugnant thought. What if, you are a scared young woman, 16 or 17 or even 19, pregnant in rural GA or TN, shame ridden as some would have felt, just wanting this to be taken care of. What people dont realize is Doc Hicks started his practice in Tennessee. 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. There is absolutely NO defense for that.He treated these babies like they were nothing more than a puppy mill money making machine. The reason I am writing is this. Hicks died at age 83 in 1972. Those who likely knew what happened may have died as well. In the documentary they have a positive match for Dr Hicks fathering one of the babies. He delivered many babies in Tennessee before they ran him out of the state. I have my ancestory DNA done and would love to try to match some names with my DNA relatives. Now, they are using the power of DNA to reunite with their biological families. Those who were adopted have few places to turn to track down their origins. Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr (1888 - 1972) - Genealogy - geni family tree My parents were a young married couple and very much wanted their baby! Dr. Thomas Hicks family tree 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. I think that you did well with pointing out that this is not on and well done. I do truly feel for the Hicks babies for not knowing; I know that must be hard. Hicks beliefs did not fully mesh with abortions, and he would sometimes convince women that he would handle adoptions if they carried the babies to term, according to WKYC in Cleveland, Ohio. He induced births, told mothers their babies died and sold them! Dr Hicks ran a clinic in McCaysville, Georgia, from about 1945 to 1965. When mothers came in to the clinic and expressed hesitancy about carrying their pregnancies to term, the doctor would persuade them to have their babies. So for that reason, I think were putting too much faith in these womens stories. The adopted child or biological mother can call and provide information about their gender and birthdate. How the hell would YOU feel? As a matter of fact she grieved the rest of her life for her first born she thought had died! Thankful for the granddaughter who went beyond what most would have to get answers. My dad moved us to New Mexico when I was in my early teens but I have a brother who stayed in Michigan. Those who were passed through the window as babies to adoptive parents have stopped by to see where their lives changed direction so early in life. In a small town filled with economical hardships, Hicks saw a need among pregnant women, although abortions conflicted with his faith, according to Narratively. Now fast forward 50 years, memories are skewed, you feel differently now, maybe you wish things were different. Stories of young girls dying from botched abortions in the early 50s still exist in the living memories of those from the region. Mama told me they ran the doctor out of Tennessee after that because he was killing so many babies. Some theorized Hicks was buried beside his mausoleum because of concern the grave would be vandalized. Dr Hicks induced some babies early, and they would have been put in incubators had then been born that early today. I was born in 1967. about dr thomas hicks family tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know. I recommend that you test with AncestryDNA and 23andMe, then consider transferring the raw data file into some of the other databases if you dont have luck at the first two. Hicks didnt oversee legal adoptions. Well he and Alannas birth father very similar. In the 1950s and 60s a small-town Georgia family doctor illegally sold hundreds of babies from the back door of his practice. Theres nothing there, Linda, one of the Hicks Babies, told Narratively. Estimates show Hicks sold about 200 babies from the 1940s to the 1960s.3. This is a story of a doctor who saved lives?? Her name is Alana honey boo boo if you dont know who she is you can google her. To give Sallie an answer. Natalie. Mama named my brother Von Gordon. I submitted my DNA in hopes that I might find my brother or some of his family. His clinic, the Hicks Clinic, was in operation between about 1945-1965. What Happened to Dr. Thomas Hicks? Thank you! Absolutely horrifying!!!!! Same ears, chin/jaw line, nose, and eyes. Blasio has dedicated her life to helping reunite Hicks Babies with their biological families. Thomas Hicks was a well-respected doctor in the small town of McCaysville, Georgia. Hicks Babies Update (2023) All You Need to Know - KnowYourDNA Just recently I have been confirmed to be the last of the Hicks babies. Hicks may not have been in Georgia during that time, but if he was in TN that might be a lead. I have so many thoughts racing through my mind. Dr. Hicks died of leukemia in 1972 at the age of 83. Bruen, Matthew Steven. But there was nothing in it. Jane Blasio, who broke the story of the Hicks Babies and leads investigative efforts, wrote her thoughts about Hicks on her website. He did not have any choice but to lie on the birth certificates. I just wanted to say I watch this show about a little girl. He died in 1972 and it took three decades before Hicks' actions were brought to light. Dr. Hicks was married and had two kids a son and a daughter. Anyways the family is from Georgia and they film there as well. The illegal adoptions that were allegedly arranged by Dr. Hicks were not discovered until after his death. Town Secret Is Uncovered In Birth Quest - The New York Times I did see it just yesterday. You can follow their life-changing stories in a three-night series, Taken at Birth, airing October 9th-11th, 2019, on TLC and some streaming platforms. Categories Searching for Biological Family. At least 200 babies had their identities stolen. One thousand dollars in 1955 would be nearly $10,000 today. Hicks initially lost his clinic for doing illicit abortions. Busted not for selling babies, but for the abortion clinic. 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. In these cases, Hicks would forge a birth certificate and give the baby to adoptive parents in secret from his Georgia clinic. Why am I rehashing this. 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. The Dr Hicks who ran the black-market adoptions had a son who became a dentist. Mama never got over this. This man told women that their babies had died or were stillborn. What part of that is okay? Geni requires JavaScript! It includes a handout, plenty of time for questions and discussion, and access to the recording for 2 weeks. Dr. Thomas Hicks died of leukemia, a type of blood cancer. Could you imagine the survival rate back then for babies 3lb or 4lbs. As far as they know the first baby that was adopted out was a twin. Until Mother's Day 1997, when his adoptions were exposed. Son of David Fleming Hicks and Mary Louise Hicks I know this first hand because of how it deeply hurt my mother for many, many years! View Ancestry DNA Matches By Ancestor With ThruLines. Thomas, or Dr. Hicks, was one of six children. How Many Babies Did Thomas Hicks Put Up For Adoption? At-home DNA testing wasnt available until recently. I can promise you this, if theres a hell, he is in the front row seat! Ive heard that many times in my life by a lot of people. Think about it, some of these folks could fall in love with a relative and not even know it. It was discovered that Dr. Thomas J. Hicks had been selling newborns from the small-town facility's backdoor for $1000. She said she heard her baby cry then Doc Hicks told her he was still born. The motives of Hicks actions are unclear. Father of Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Jr; Dr Walter Lynn Hicks and Private It sits in a plaza in McCaysville, Georgia with a pizza shop on one end and a barbecue restaurant on the other, according to Narratively. I had a brother who was given up for adoption by his mother in Tennessee. Both of Dr. Hicks parents were born in Tennessee. And most of these women were likely unmarried, which was a huge no-no at the time. Do you have your fathers original birth certificate? Many of those from Hicks small town defended his actions. 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. Most people whose recent ancestors were born in the United States will find that their DNA match lists include people who are related to them at a distance of 2nd-3rd cousins. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks Sr (1888-1972) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree He induced birth prematurely to make money. For him to lie to these women is unforgivable. Occupation: Dentist Spouse: Sallie Cobb Johnson Adopted children: Thomas J. III and Sallie Cobb Hicks Son of Chassie Copeland and Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks Sr. who performed illegal late term abortions, sold infants on the black market and is the subject of the TLC documentary Taken At Birth.. Hicks was performing abortions long before Roe. He was never formally charged with arranging these illegal adoptions, and for this reason, he never went to jail or faced legal consequences for his actions. It can be a serious disease. That evil man lied to my mother and stole my oldest brother and by the way, $1000 was alot of money in the 1930s, 40s and 50$ in the Appalachian Mountains. How HEARTLESS can someone be then to tell a parent their childTHEIR CHILD died just so he could profit? Instructions for how to transfer the raw data file to MyHeritage and FTDNA are here: https://thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/. He is monster!! He also delivered the babies early, between 31 & 34 wks causing them to have low birthweight and health issues. Aside from families that might eventually tell their adult children, the only hope Hicks babies have of finding their biological relatives is DNA tracking. 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. I was warned about ever asking those questions again, this man said I know who you are, please let it alone. It sits in a plaza in McCaysville, Georgia with a pizza shop on one end and a barbecue restaurant on the other, according to Narratively. One of those babies he delivered in Tennessee was my oldest brother who was supposedly still born. now that im older and i actually understand what happened i think its horrible. And he gave the babies to equally desperate childless parents. (@Angel5Christine) October 8, 2019. Some of the ads and links on this website are affiliate links which pay me a commission if you purchase through them. The sentiments were echoed in other news stories. https://thednageek.com/dna-tests. Dr. Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was posthumously accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. I know abortion was illegal at the time, and then I think he was running into people who couldnt afford adoptions, he told the New York Post. A sick, twisted & greedy man. Some on here commented that the bio moms were likely unwed and didnt want the babies. She was present when authorities opened the mausoleum. Busted not for selling babies, but for the abortion clinic But what does anyone think was normally done with illegally aborted babies during that time I can tell you, they were likely disposed of in with the garbage. The charges didnt mention that he sold babies or had them illegally adopted. Otherwise he wouldnt have needed to lie about them being stillborn. My brother was born in the middle 1930s. And the $1k sounds about like what my Dad was sold for. Before Doctor Hicks opened his practice in Georgia he was just across the state line in Polk County Tennessee in the 1930s. For perspective, $1000 in 1950 is equal to about $10,900 in todays dollars. And in 1972, Hicks died at age 83. Many are still trying to find their biological relatives. Father of Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Jr; Dr Walter Lynn Hicks and Private we do not know where these births occured most of our family is deceased. I am helping a relative looking for his birth parents or siblings. Time is running out. A New York Times profile of Blasio appeared in 1997, which was around the. I am honored to be part of the behind-the-scenes team of passionate and compassionate people who helped some of them in their journeys. a fun fact is that me and my mom and my dead grandfather only have his blood. Curiously, Dr. Thomas J. Hicks is not buried in a mausoleum that bears his name, but beside it. I still dont know, one of the Hicks Babies, Melinda, told the publication. He was buried in Crestlawn Cemetery in Polk County, Tennessee. Evil does not begin to describe this man. 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. He sold at least one more baby after he was shut down. Blasio and 200 others were taken from their mothers at birth in the 1950s and 60s and sold illegally on the black market out the back door of a clinic run by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks. He gave them good care. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPQ5-SW1: accessed 10 April 2021), A G Hicks, Copperhill, Polk, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 10, sheet 1B, line 89, family 17, "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4ZJ-HRF: 11 January 2021), Thomas J Hicks, Civil District 3, Polk, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 70-8, sheet 11B, line 42, family 207, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Son of David Fleming Hicks and Mary Louise Hicks In the mid-1940s, Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks opened the Hicks Community Clinic in the small town of McCaysville, Georgia, mere steps from the Tennessee state line. You should be ashamed of yourself because you have no idea of the pain he caused many families! I am the youngest of seven siblings. The illegal adoptions came to an end in 1964, when Hicks was caught performing illegal abortions. He lost his medical license in 1964, but he faced no jail time for the illegal abortions. In 1964, the town sheriff arrested Hicks for performing illegal abortions. They should at least be thankful that they werent aborted. Why dig up a grave when dna could have given these people the answer if they were siblings? The series tells the story of a man that stole over 200 babies and sold them on the black market. Some residents seemed to know the double life he was leading. Eventually, in 1964, he was caught performing an abortion and was summarily stripped of his medical license. They werent all there for abortions!! I kept yelling at the tv he saved your freaking life!!!! CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Remember that these women had no where else to go, no one to turn to. 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. 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. 50 Years After Being Stolen and Sold, Baby Reunited with Birth Mother Dr. Hicks was a town doctor who performed illegal abortions. How Did Hicks Black Market Babies Business Work? Have you checked the adoption registries to see if hes looking for his biological family? We dont know anything about the adults he has seen. They were all corrupt! Would love to have help, Im mr.hicks grate grate grand daughter sadly, hes from my moms side of the family. Jane Blasio, The Hicks Baby Who Broke the Black Market Baby Adoption Case: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. She hopes DNA testing will enable them to find their birth parents. It may have started with good intentions, but these babies deserve the truth and they deserve it now. And he was stealing babies telling mothers that they delivered a still born. Blasio and 200 others were taken from their mothers at birth in the 1950s and '60s and sold illegally on the black market out the back door of a clinic run by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks. Expand. "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 During the years that he ran his clinic, the town was at its population peak of between 1,800-2,000 residents. Husband of Chassie Hicks Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr (1888 - 1972) - Genealogy Genealogy for Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr (1888 - 1972) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. The news captivated many outside McCaysville. Autosomal DNA tests, such as Ancestry DNA, 23andMe, My Heritage, and Family Tree DNA, offer extensive DNA match lists. I agree totally with you.This all sounds awful. She carried him to full term and went to Dr Hicks to deliver her baby! Dr Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was posthumously accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. Tlc Presents the Untold Story Behind the "Hicks Babies" Black Market
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