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. Ive heard the same story over and over, that the mother heard her baby cry but was told it was stillborn. Read our best DNA test page to find the best one for you. Have you heard the story of Dr. Hicks? The six-part, three-night special revisits the case of Dr. Thomas J. Hicks, who sold or gave away more than 200 infants from the '40s to the '60s By Jeff Truesdell Published on October 8, 2019 10: . Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. My mother/father picked me up from a nurse in a hotel in 1967. survivors include his mother, diann loftice barker of mckinney; stepfather, don barker of mckinney; three brothers: billy loftice of princeton, ron and jasen loftice both of mckinney; two sisters: lisa murphy of culleoka, artie stone of princeton . Clearly, you have never lost a child. The method of the illegal adoptions has left many questions for those who started their lives in Hicks clinic. Did you like this post? The story broke across the U.S. in 1997 when an Akron woman named Jane Blasio learned that her parents bought her from a clinic in Georgia. Not a mother who wanted to give her baby up for adoption, but a mother who trusted her doctor? was there more than one Dr. Hicks mentioned in the Taken AT Birth documentary or just one? Their lower-priced test is fine for your purposes. It was discovered that Dr. Thomas J. Hicks had been selling newborns from the small-town facility's backdoor for $1000. The reason I am writing is this. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks performed abortions in the 1950s, long before abortions were legalized in Roe v. Wade. Thanks, In these cases, Hicks would forge a birth certificate and give the baby to adoptive parents in secret from his Georgia clinic. Somehow I missed this Documentary the first time it aired. On the documentary the officer in the second episode claimed he gave a relative of his a shot and she died 30min later. 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. Mama named my brother Von Gordon. It sickens me to see any one make what he did look OKAY! He also delivered the babies early, between 31 & 34 wks causing them to have low birthweight and health issues. That doesnt mean that my heart doesnt break for the pain that these people have gone through and continue to go through. Appalachian History says his daughter is still alive and living in North Carolina. Hicks was performing abortions long before Roe. Barbara, I shuttered when I read your comment! Perhaps your dad was referring to the equipment used to save preemies. Anyways the family is from Georgia and they film there as well. THE ONE FAMILY HAD TWIN BOYS AND THE MAN WAS IN A FAMILY THAT HATED HIM HIS ENTIRE LIFE. So telling the one mother her twin boys were stillborn is acceptable to you. Some theorized Hicks was buried beside his mausoleum because of concern the grave would be vandalized. I hope youre able to solve your case soon. Dr Harshi Dhingra is a licensed medical doctor with a specialization in Pathology. Women came to have abortions and he told them it was a successful procedure, only to take that premature baby and sell it to someone. amd im 13 so i have a long way to go . 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. Absolutely horrifying!!!!! After years of wondering about her birth family, will Diane finally have closure? According to the New York Post, Jane is just one of more than 200 newborns sold by Dr. Hicks, during the 1950s and '60s.. As part of his practice, Hicks performed abortions, which were illegal at the time. Not to mention the fact that some of these birth mothers thought their babies DIED! 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. The story has been featured in many TV specials, including on TLCs, Taken At Birth, which originally aired in 2019. The illegal adoptions that were allegedly arranged by Dr. Hicks were not discovered until after his death. I think, at first, it was under the table, and then he had seen there was money involved. McCaysville, which is located in the southern Appalachian Mountains right on the Georgia border with Tennessee, was shocked to hear that their beloved town doctor, Dr. Hicks, was accused of arranging illegal adoptions, and even selling babies, for parents wanting to adopt. Enter a grandparent's name. You are right, Dr Hicks was an evil man. She noted to the TV station many of them went to good homes and led successful lives. Im sure there are also many, many Hicks babies out there that have no idea they are Hicks babies. I dont trust my own memories, let alone 50 year old memories. The illegal adoptions came to an end in 1964, when Hicks was caught performing illegal abortions. Blasio went on to help dozens of Hicks babies so they could track down their birth parents and relatives. Natalie. 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. DNA ancestry testing offers a way for people interested in family history (genealogy) to, Our Verdict: My reports from GPS Origins arent nearly as comprehensive as the ones, FamilyTreeDNA has tons of features and information that you wont get with most of, There are plenty of cheap DNA tests you can purchase if you want to, The offerings from each DNA testing service vary wildly, so it can be difficult. His birth certificate when he ent into the service was different than the one his parents had, so all I know its June 19 or 20, 1941. Dr. Hicks had a granddaughter, Sally Sompayrac, who empathizes with the plight of the Hicks babies. I agree totally with you.This all sounds awful. Women came to give birth, and were told their babies were stillborn! Both of Dr. Hicks' parents were born in Tennessee. My mom had two stillborn they told her. They adored Dr Hicks and were fiercely protective of his reputation and legacy. Now fast forward 50 years, memories are skewed, you feel differently now, maybe you wish things were different. I came from a messed up family, too. Hicks faced legal trouble for illegal abortions, but not for the illegal adoptions. John Stapleton, another one of the Hicks Babies, said he did not think Hicks started in the business for profit. With the judges help, she learned that the clinic sold babies while they were still open. I am the youngest of seven siblings. 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. Then you missed the entirety of the story. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks died at age 83 on March 5, 1972, after a battle with leukemia. He was born in April 1964 Sumner County TN from what he knows. Time is running out. What people dont realize is Doc Hicks started his practice in Tennessee. More than 200 babies, known as the Hicks Babies, were sold by Hicks through a back window of the Hicks Community Clinic in McCaysville, Georgia during the 1950s and 1960s. 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. Yes he had a choice he just made the wrong one for greed!! Many of those from Hicks small town defended his actions. Ive heard that many times in my life by a lot of people. If he does, youll want to be in whichever database he decides to use. Learn how three Hicks babies were able to find biological family using DNA. And he was more than happy to perform abortions. 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. During the documentary they interviewed a dr that runs a NICU and he said absolutely many of these babies died from there extremely low birth weight and the adoptive parents would have had no choice but to just discard them. Dr Hicks induced some babies early, and they would have been put in incubators had then been born that early today. If they were going to have an abortion like some people are saying then there would be absolutely no need to tell the moms that. They can arrange a meeting if a match shows up and both sides want to meet. He was married and had two children, a son and a daughter. Janice, I am from Polk County Tennessee as well and Dr Hicks delivered my oldest brother before they ran him out of Tennessee. If you find ANYTHING humane or OKAY about that then God so help you! How can you condone that? 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. He died in 1972 and it took three decades before Hicks' actions were brought to light. Theres nothing there, Linda, one of the Hicks Babies, told Narratively. I think that you did well with pointing out that this is not on and well done. What he provided were lies to young mothers and fathers who wanted their babies ! 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. Hed do anything for anybody sometimes hed pay a price for it, she said. She never got over it. He was arrested for performing illegal abortions in 1964. My mother grieved for her baby the rest if her life! Theres probably a lot of dead babies because of his practices. The story is told on Taken at Birth. These babies were born between 3.5 and 4.75 lbs.. very unfavorable!! 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. AND IN ALL ACTUALITY HICKS LIED TO HER TO GET HER TWIN BOYS AND MADE OVER 2000 OFF OF HER PAIN. That is crazy! I think he was a good man. Could you imagine the survival rate back then for babies 3lb or 4lbs. He did not have any choice but to lie on the birth certificates. 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 about 200 people, now adults, who are among those who are sometimes referred to as Hicks Babies. And youve had children with them??? 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. Babies came to the mountains with him and babies left the mountains with him. If there was no demand for the service, Hicks would not have been doing it. ABC News, accessed 17 September 2019. Such an evil man to cause such heart ache! 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. These closer relatives can provide important clues that can help determine exactly which child descended from the grandparents (identified through the 2nd-3rd cousins) was likely the biological mother or father. If hes alive, hopefully hell see the TV show and decide to test. Some residents seemed to know the double life he was leading. He ran the Hicks Community Clinic and offered his services to poor copper mining families. His daughter is living in North Carolina, according to Appalachian History. TLC's "Taken at Birth" will explore Thomas J. Hicks. Mama never got over this. What Happened To Dr. Hicks And His Associates? Dr. Hicks did lose his medical license in 1964 due to an infraction unrelated to the illegal adoptions. No one with half a brain can even think that is good. Besides his charitable practices, he performed unauthorized abortions. The sentiments were echoed in other news stories. Adopting families from out of town often drove up to the door. I have had two of my children die. I so agree with you. about dr thomas hicks family tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know. He wasnt going around knocking girls up and holding them hostage in his apartment until they delivered their babies so he could sell them.. They should at least be thankful that they werent aborted. | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Family Tree Building Basics for Beginners Book, Use DNA to Trace Your Mexican Family Tree Book, Example of Family Tree DNA Family Finder Results, were discovered more than two decades after Dr. Hicks death. I mean no disrespect towards anyone. To date, no one knows the exact number of babies he stole and sold on . Have you taken a DNA test yourself? Hicks faced legal trouble for illegal abortions, but not for the illegal adoptions. His name would have been Von Gordon Prince. Hicks Baby Adoptee Sold by Georgia Doctor 50 Years Ago Reunites With Birth Mother, Brother. 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. Those who were adopted have few places to turn to track down their origins. Why dig up a grave when dna could have given these people the answer if they were siblings? The motives of Hicks actions are unclear. "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 i am from polk county tenn we are trying to find if our brother danny is still alive we have learned 3 dead babies in my family it is interesting. Narratively, accessed 17 September 2019. Geni requires JavaScript! If you havent been there, you cannot possibly imagine what that is like. Are you in all of the DNA databases? Wow! He was born October 18, 1888. In 2014, around 30 suspected Hicks Babies traveled to Tennessee to undergo DNA testing. Stories of young girls dying from botched abortions in the early 50s still exist in the living memories of those from the region. Dr. Hicks created fake birth certificates and listed the adoptive parents as biological parents. My YDNA indicates I am not Hicks. As a result, he could not provide information that would help the babies find their parents or the other way around.4. So no, I cant completely vilify as I just dont know. In 1964, the town sheriff arrested Hicks for performing illegal abortions. pic.twitter.com/3dg3CRes3u. He lied to many and told them their babies died! More than 200 babies, known as the Hicks Babies, were sold by Hicks through a back window of the Hicks Community Clinic in McCaysville, Georgia during the 1950s and 1960s. How Many Babies Did Thomas Hicks Put Up For Adoption? My Mama and Dad were married and biological parents to my brother. I know your heart aches. There was a tip-off, though. is anything else your are looking? The Hicks Community Clinic has been closed for years, but the building still stands. In the 40s, 50s, and 60s, a doctor was selling babies from his small town abortion clinic in the heart of McCaysville, Georgia. 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 sold those babies for a profit. A lot of the babies that were sold were under 5lbs which could indicate that he induced labor which would make the childs death more believable since the baby came early. One thousand dollars in 1955 would be nearly $10,000 today. "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. If shes still alive and knows shes adopted, she may be looking for you using DNA. Both of Dr. Hicks parents were born in Tennessee. Cristine Santander is a content writer for KnowYourDNA. Uncover your ancestry, paternity, and health risks for peace of mind, Get affordable medical tests that you can privately take at home, Test your gut bacteria and learn ways to restore its balance, Discover healthy diets and apps that can help you lose weight, Lose weight without sacrificing your nutrition and health, Straighten your teeth at home and see visible results in months. Until Mother's Day 1997, when his adoptions were exposed. Blasio also created a confidential registry to help Hicks babies find their parents and siblings. What Does It Mean If You Have 1% Native American DNA? Same ears, chin/jaw line, nose, and eyes. His Georgia clinic was located only a short distance away from his previous practice in Tennessee right across the border. What he did was completely illegal, but was it less moral than aborting these babies? Some were children of women Hicks convinced not to have abortions. Bruen, Matthew Steven. Thank you for visiting dr thomas hicks family tree page. I do truly feel for the Hicks babies for not knowing; I know that must be hard. There is living proof, with dna, of one man, who along with his twin brother, was reported dead and buried by Dr. Hicks. In the 1950s and 60s a small-town Georgia family doctor illegally sold hundreds of babies from the back door of his practice. And he gave the babies to equally desperate childless parents. A New York Times profile of Blasio appeared in 1997, which was around the. My Mama and Daddy were young parents and though they were very poor they both wanted their first born with all their heart! 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. It is unknown whether Hicks paid the biological mothers for the babies. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. His parents were David Fleming Hicks and Mary Louise Holt. Prior to that, he was practicing just across the state line in Copperhill, Tennessee, and could well have been selling babies then. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks in MyHeritage family trees (Sompayrac Web Site) Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr in 1940 United States Federal Census Thomas Hicks in U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) view all Immediate Family Chassie Hicks wife Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Jr son Dr Walter Lynn Hicks son Private child Mary Louise Hicks mother ALL OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE MESSED UP FROM THIS. And, even though it was illegal, many women thought they were having an abortion. My Mama and Daddy were very young yet very poor when this evil man told my Mama her first born son, my oldest brother was dead. Shame on him and all those who covered for him and his horrific lies. Dr. Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was posthumously accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. He was wrong and he did wrong so did the mayor and chief of police. Hicks was providing a service, Ken Rush, director of the Ducktown Basin Museum, told Narratively. He let loose some real chaos into this world.. The motives of Hicks actions are unclear. What Dr Hicks did was illegal. The method of the illegal adoptions has left many questions for those who started their lives in Hicks clinic. Dr. Hicks died of leukemia in 1972 at the age of 83. is anything else your are looking? I did do a DNA test with no response. For him to lie to these women is unforgivable. Facebook Once they have grouped their DNA matches in to several groups, they can study the descendants of the ancestors to find where they connect to each other. Thomas, or Dr. Hicks, was one of six children. There are stories that even suggest that some mothers were told that their babies did not survive at birth. It is suspected that many of them did and there is rumor that perhaps he disposed of those little bodies in the river. Busted not for selling babies, but for the abortion clinic. Were it not for him encouraging these women to have their babies, these children would have never been given a chance at life. Husband of Chass Chassie Hicks Learn how your comment data is processed. Apparently these women were seeking abortions, not babies. 1997. If he was truly compassionate and a good man he would not have lied to the mothers and told them they delivered a stillborn baby or that the baby died. Many are hoping DNA will link them to their birth families, and some of them have found biological parents, siblings and parents through DNA, according to WKYC. About 15 of the 200+ babies have been reunited with their biological parents. https://t.co/900llb4znH, Angel Patriot?? I cannot imagine being one of these babies. Well he and Alannas birth father very similar. My mother was soooo lucky compared to all of the hudreds of babies Hicks Babies. Thomas is 21 degrees from Jennifer Aniston, 20 degrees from Drew Barrymore, 22 degrees from Candice Bergen, 26 degrees from Alexandre Dumas, 17 degrees from Carrie Fisher, 32 degrees from Whitney Houston, 20 degrees from Hayley Mills, 20 degrees from Liza Minnelli, 20 degrees from Lisa Presley, 21 degrees from Kiefer Sutherland, 17 degrees from Bill Veeck and 22 degrees from Brian Nash on our single family tree. I was waiting for one mother to come on and say that they were told that their baby had died, but nope. She assumed it was a legal adoption until he told her otherwise.