Categories Searching for Biological Family. The poverty here in the Copper Basin of southeast Tennessee and far north Georgia, which includes the town of McCaysville, often meant that pregnant women couldnt ask a relative or friend to help raise their children. His wife and son both passed away, and his daughter lives in North Carolina, according to Appalachian History. To date, seven of the biological mothers have come forward. Theres a documentary on the Hicks Babies that Im assuming you havent seen. Some residents seemed to know the double life he was leading. In a small town filled with economical hardships, Hicks saw a need among pregnant women, although abortions conflicted with his faith, according to Narratively. I am the youngest of seven siblings. With the judges help, she learned that the clinic sold babies while they were still open. In these cases, Hicks would forge a birth certificate and give the baby to adoptive parents in secret from his Georgia clinic. He delivered many babies in Tennessee before they ran him out of the state. News, TLC Shows. Thank goodness your grandmother was there and knew what to do. Login to find your connection. The series tells the story of a man that stole over 200 babies and sold them on the black market. 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. Hed encourage them to put their babies up for adoption instead. i hope everything gets better for those kids and those parents. Perhaps your dad was referring to the equipment used to save preemies. Mama named my brother Von Gordon. 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. After I watched your show on TLC, I took a trip up to the mountains., looked the house that was HIckscock and made a big mistake when I asked some questions. Narratively, accessed 17 September 2019. i come from to sides of a family that are both messed up. Unfortunately, Hicks kept no records of the birth mothers. pic.twitter.com/77eyWNLdHM. My husband and I said the same thing while watching this show! At the very least, she helps them learn more about their birth stories and roots. These babies were born between weighing only 3.5 and 4.75 lbs.. ALL very unfavorable conditions!!!! I am by no means defending Dr Hicks black-market adoption practices, but its important to remember that, even today, people die from asthma attacks. Dr Hicks induced some babies early, and they would have been put in incubators had then been born that early today. So many of the women were told their babies had died. People, accessed 17 September 2019. I have a great sample of relatives going back many generations. He let loose some real chaos into this world.. Dr. Hicks died of leukemia in 1972 at the age of 83. 'Hicks Baby' Adoptee Sold by Georgia Doctor 50 Years Ago Reunites With Birth Mother, Brother, Who are the Hicks babies? But advocates hope it will someday happen. Many people who fell victim to the Hicks baby market hope these DNA tests will help them find closure. Dr. Thomas Hicks died of leukemia, a type of blood cancer. 23andMe is on sale right now, so its a good time to buy. 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. Prior to that, he was practicing just across the state line in Copperhill, Tennessee, and could well have been selling babies then. Dr. Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. Dr Hicks ran a clinic in McCaysville, Georgia, from about 1945 to 1965. And he gave the babies to equally desperate childless parents. about dr thomas hicks family tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know. Dr. Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was posthumously accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. "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. There was a tip-off, though. Jane Blasio, who broke the story of the Hicks Babies and leads investigative efforts, wrote her thoughts about Hicks on her website. Many of those from Hicks small town defended his actions. Dr. Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was posthumously accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. Dr Thomas Jugarthy "Tommy" Hicks Jr. - Find a Grave 2017. What's additionally staggering is it's believed that more than 200 infants, known as the "Hicks Babies," were victims of the doctor's scheme during the '50s and '60s. Copyright 2023 Who are You Made Of? There is absolutely NO defense for that.He treated these babies like they were nothing more than a puppy mill money making machine. I have hicks show up in my DNA results. The son, Gillam Thomas Hicks, and his family will be featured in next week's column. (@Angel5Christine) October 8, 2019. My oldest would have been born in Akron in 1960. Her decade-long search for her birth parents led to the exposure of Hicks' illegal babies. https://thednageek.com/dna-tests. Hi, the category is just Category:McCaysville, Georgia. The motives of Hicks actions are unclear. What years was he operating in TN, and where? Originally from Tennessee, Thomas Hicks was educated at Tusculum College (now Tusculum University) and Carson-Newman College, both in Tennessee, and Emory University Medical School near Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you for visiting dr thomas hicks family tree page. Time is running out. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. He sold at least one more baby after he was shut down. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGFJ-W52: accessed 10 April 2021), Thomas J Hicks in household of D Fleming Hicks, Civil District 10, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 162, sheet 7B, family 136, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9119259/thomas-jugarthy-hicks, See: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:McCaysville%2C_Georgia Exactly! Who was Thomas J. Hicks? Babies were handed out to them through the door or window. Love and hugs to them all! I was warned about ever asking those questions again, this man said I know who you are, please let it alone. I may have a couple brothers out there. I dont know. Dr. Hicks served as a town doctor in McCaysville, Ga., and was known for performing abortions, which were illegal at the time. thank you so much for the information danny has 5 sisters and 1 brother looking for him, Should anyone believe or just want to be a part of the DNA registry for The Nicks Babies..please visit us on our webpage (Hicks Adoptees), Thank You is anything else your are looking? Brother of Lucy Elizabeth Ketron; John Willie Hicks; Samuel Earnest Hicks; Infant Daughter Hicks and Carrie Ellen Dickson. 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. Hopefully he got his comeuppance. 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. And he was more than happy to perform abortions. Blasio first traveled to McCaysville in 1988 to search for her birth mother. Within a decade, he was not only performing illegal abortions but selling newborns on the black market. These folks deserve to know where they came from! These include the nurse, the secretary who signed the false documents, Hicks lawyer, and the sheriff who investigated Hicks illegal abortion clinic. 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. Im so sorry for your familys loss. I Just dont understand how anyone could possibly think what he did was right or just or in any way good at all!! 1997. 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. Never has been black market babies, she told WKYC. I hope that you have found this article interesting, and that you understand more about the story of Dr. Hicks and how the individuals who were adopted through his clinic might be able to use DNA results to discover the identities of their biological parents. Since you cant know which one in advance, your most cost-effective strategy is to test with AncestryDNA and 23andMe and then transfer the raw data file into the other databases for free. The birth certificates Ive seen were in the 6-7 lb range. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He states that he chased the car down the road from where hicks office was to try and get me before they took off in 1954. He induced birth prematurely to make money. This type of adoption is just one way that many babies are adopted through illegal, black market adoptions. How Did Hicks Black Market Babies Business Work? Many of the Hicks babies also began searching for their biological families. I have been advised by a man named Bill Miller from Cleveland Ohio that I was a Hicks baby but cannot find out if this is true. Thank you. He was inducing them around 30 weeks handing out 4lb babies to people. The second would have been no later than 1962. Wow! Moves to NE Ohio and then to Michigan from 1868 to this day. 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. I know your heart aches. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks performed abortions in the 1950s, long before abortions were legalized in Roe v. Wade. How the hell would YOU feel? Some of the ads and links on this website are affiliate links which pay me a commission if you purchase through them. Would love your thoughts, please comment. One twin has not been found yet but the one that was found was adopted into a horrible family and had a really sad childhood. 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. Bloomington, Pickett, Tennessee, United States, Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks & Chass Copeland, marriage record, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9119259, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-06-mn-10123-story.html, https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/23/us/town-secret-is-uncovered-in-birth-quest.html, https://www.distractify.com/p/dr-hicks-taken-at-birth, https://narratively.com/babies-for-sale-the-secret-adoptions-that-haunt-one-georgia-town/, https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a29403041/who-is-dr-thomas-j-hicks/, https://nypost.com/2019/10/08/black-market-babies-reunited-after-more-than-50-years/, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hicks-babies-trying-to-find-their-roots-decades-later/, https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/investigations/decades-old-secret-adoptions-solved-by-modern-dna-for-akron-area-families/95-597582808, https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/jun/22/seeking-family-links/250410/, https://globintel.com/usa/dr-thomas-hicks-wiki-taken-at-birth/, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSZD-WWR, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGFJ-W52, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ6P-BJM, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNX9-1PS, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN5X-3HV, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPQ5-SW1, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4ZJ-HRF, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JRRC-NPT, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:McCaysville%2C_Georgia, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. 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. 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. Try DNA ancestry.comI found my biological father this waybest way to find out if you have family is through DNA, Take a ancestry dna That is the test they are using. Surnames in his family tree include Thomas, Fitch, Green, Waddell, and Johnson. If they went there to have abortions and he told them what they wanted to hear, saved the lives of their babies and put them into the arms of loving parents, that makes him a hero in my eyes. We can tell ourselves stories, and they become our truths. He lost his medical license in 1964, but he faced no jail time for the illegal abortions. It was Mother's Day of 1997 when Reymann saw a story in the Akron Beacon Journal featuring the story of Jane Blasio who had discovered she had been illegally sold as an infant for $1,000 from a clinic run by Dr. Thomas Hicks in McCaysville, Ga. some three decades earlier. What Happened To Dr. Hicks And His Associates? I hope your brother decides to test someday. Brother of Infant Daughter Hicks, U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI)Listed as Thomas HicksBirth: Oct 18 1888Death: Mar 1972Last residence: Copperhill, Tennessee 37317, USA, News report: [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186644/Adopted-woman-51-SO]. New TLC Special Taken At Birth Dives into Shocking Hicks Babies Black Market Adoption Scandal. For him to lie to these women is unforgivable. i was told i was born in raymond wa. Hicks' wife and son had already passed away. 'Taken At Birth': Dr. Thomas J. Hicks & Stolen Babies [2021 Update] Dr. Thomas Hicks. what he did was very wrong and im very sorry for all those kids and parents. Aside from families that might eventually tell their adult children, the only hope Hicks babies have of finding their biological relatives is DNA tracking. That doesnt mean that my heart doesnt break for the pain that these people have gone through and continue to go through. HIS BIO FAMILY DIDNT FIND OUT ABT HIM UNTIL 60 YEARS LATER AND TOO LATE BECAUAE HIS MOTHER WAS I ALREADY DEAD. THIS POOR WOMAN THOUGHT HER TWIN BOYS HAD DIED. Dr Thomas Hicks Family Tree With Complete Detail The motives of Hicks actions are unclear. You dont want to vilify him? You should be ashamed of yourself because you have no idea of the pain he caused many families! It would give me great peace to know I found him or his family for my sweet Mama. The man that is Dr.Hicks first stolen, one of the twins. Dr Hicks didnt keep records of the births and adoptions, so the only way to find your brother, if hes still alive, would be if he decided to look for you using DNA. Barbara, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. In the 40s, 50s, and 60s, a doctor was selling babies from his small town abortion clinic in the heart of McCaysville, Georgia. Besides his charitable practices, he performed unauthorized abortions. My thoughts exactly. Son of David Fleming Hicks and Mary Louise Hicks As a result, he could not provide information that would help the babies find their parents or the other way around. She was 6 years old when her adoptive father sat her down about it. Appalachian History says his daughter is still alive and living in North Carolina. 2019. In other cases, he said their babies were stillborn and died before or during delivery. Theres probably a lot of dead babies because of his practices. Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, the man behind the Hicks Babies, ran a small clinic in the tiny town of McCaysville, Georgia. Clickherefor more information. Still, she defends her late grandfathers actions. Starting in 1955 and running through the early 1960s, Hicks offered secretive abortions and adoptions here. He delivered my oldest brother. AND IN ALL ACTUALITY HICKS LIED TO HER TO GET HER TWIN BOYS AND MADE OVER 2000 OFF OF HER PAIN. He was married and had two children, a son and a daughter. Estimated reading time: 5 minutes From 1951 to 1965 Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks began to quietly offer babies for adoption from his Hicks Community Clinic in McCaysville, GA. When they opened it up there was great excitement. Appalachian History, accessed 17 September 2019. i am interested in the hicks babies i supposely had a brother who died in the early 1950s i would like to know if he is still alive, DNA geek, 'Black market baby' meets biological father in Gallatin Aside from giving the adopted daughter her answer. in todays market he did make money, he also induced those women into early labor to push those babies out putting the babies and mothers in jeopardy(I wonder how many died). And most of these women were likely unmarried, which was a huge no-no at the time. TLC's 'Taken at Birth' Investigates Black Market Adoption Ring - People Autosomal DNA tests, such as Ancestry DNA, 23andMe, My Heritage, and Family Tree DNA, offer extensive DNA match lists. 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. They look exactly alike. The story is told on Taken at Birth. This is accomplished through the careful study of DNA matches. She had particular qualms with the notion of black market babies.. I hope you guys can find what your looking for. You can see for yourself google him. What he did has no merit. These werent all women seeking abortions, a number of these women were seeking medical care for themselves and their unborn babies only to be robbed of that precious life. I think, at first, it was under the table, and then he had seen there was money involved. Barbara, the very same thing happened to my Mother. 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. But there was nothing in it. I have my ancestory DNA done and would love to try to match some names with my DNA relatives. I am wondering if any possible hicks babies that have not found relatives has DNA done? 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. Hicks was the beloved town doctor in the tiny mountain town of McCaysville, but women came from miles around to seek his services. She named him Von Gordon. Bruen, Matthew Steven. Dr. Hicks was married and had two children, a son and a daughter. Dr. Hicks obviously cannot give his side of the story. Dr Harshi Dhingra is a licensed medical doctor with a specialization in Pathology. After watching this documentary I can see how he got away with it for so long. Many are still trying to find their biological relatives. I still dont know, one of the Hicks Babies, Melinda, told the publication. Anyways the family is from Georgia and they film there as well. Why am I rehashing this. Blasio says that 50 of the 200+ children have been identified and located. my sister some how never got the gene or blood of him. How can this man NOT be vilified?! Selling 200 babies in illegal adoptions at $1000 each could have made a person very wealthy in 1950, though his exact motivations may never be known. The reason I am writing is this. 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. In 2020 a 4lb baby as a very good chance of not making it even with amazing NICUs in todays age. Are you on drugs. He was born in April 1964 Sumner County TN from what he knows. Geni requires JavaScript! Dr. Hicks created fake birth certificates and listed the adoptive parents as biological parents. His wife was a Baptist Sunday school teacher, according to PEOPLE. Tune in to #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, starting TONIGHT at 9/8c. 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.