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. Many of those from Hicks small town defended his actions. The biological mother was not mentioned, and there was no court record or other official document connecting the babies to their biological parents. He was her first born and she said she heard him cry yet Dr Hicks told her he was still born. amd im 13 so i have a long way to go . 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! I think that you did well with pointing out that this is not on and well done. Thank you. TLC 1997. Just one grandparent can lead you to many Theres probably a lot of dead babies because of his practices. 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. 4. Hicks performed illegal abortions in the 1950s and 1960s, along with the illegal adoptions, until he faced legal troubles in 1964 for the abortions. He lied to those women whether they wanted their children or not. The illegal adoptions stopped in 1964 when Hicks . But advocates hope it will someday happen. The motives of Hicks actions are unclear. Town Secret Is Uncovered In Birth Quest. Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, the man behind the Hicks Babies, ran a small clinic in the tiny town of McCaysville, Georgia. Dr. Hicks was a town doctor who performed illegal abortions. Some birth mothers knew they were placing a baby for adoption, some thought they had an abortion, and some were told their infants died. She grieved for him her entire life! 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. She noted to the TV station many of them went to good homes and led successful lives. (@Angel5Christine) October 8, 2019. 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. What Happened To Dr. Hicks And His Associates? 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. 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. Youre as crazy as he was if you think he should even get a pat on the back for his time and services. "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. I dont trust my own memories, let alone 50 year old memories. 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. She is a member of a Facebook groups which joins the Hicks babies. 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. Blasio knew she was adopted at a young age. Thank you! We only know about the ones who survived. They may not even know theyre adopted. So all of what you said is ridiculous. My mother remarried in 1969 in GA, I cannot locate any information about her daughter except a clipping cutout from the obituaries in michigan, NO GRAVE, BIRTH OR DEATH RECORDS can be found, can you help, The connections of Georgia and Michigan and Ohio seemed odd, we desperately desire to locate her, Do you know where she was born (which clinic or hospital)? For over 50 years this small town has been hiding a shocking secret. 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. A fake birth certificate was produced, listing the adoptive parents as the parents of the child. TLC's Taken at Birth, which first aired in 2019, is a three-part . Its time the truth came to light. He lied to many and told them their babies died! Today, these babies are referred to as "Hicks babies.". Now fast forward 50 years, memories are skewed, you feel differently now, maybe you wish things were different. Blasio also created a confidential registry to help Hicks babies find their parents and siblings. 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. How the hell would YOU feel? 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. 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. If so, login to add it. Barbara, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, begins TONIGHT at 9/8c. The sentiments were echoed in other news stories. My heart breaks for your mama and for your whole family. My Grandma has been gone several years now, but she told us numerous times that in 1952 when she gave birth to my aunt that she remembers having two babies and the nurse telling her she had a boy. Thank you. He also has a living granddaughter named Sally Sompayrac. Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206086779/margaret-mary-brown, Samuel Ernest Hicks, Lucy Elizabeth Ketron, John William Hicks, Unknown Hicks, Carrie Ellen Dickson, Anna Laura Bradley (born Hicks), David Fleming Hicks, Mary Louise Hicks (born Holt), Samuel Earnest Hicks, Lucy Elizabeth Hicks, John William Hicks, Unknown Hicks, Carrie Ellen Dickson (born Hicks), Annie Laurie Hicks, 1910 - Civil District 10, Sullivan, Tennessee, USA, Lucy E Hicks, Carrie E Hicks, Laura A 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, Oct 18 1888 - Orebank, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States, Mar 5 1972 - Copperhill, Polk, Tennessee, United States, Thomas Jugarthy Hicks Jr, Walter Lynn Hicks, Margaret Mary Brown (born Hicks), uel Ernest Hicks, Lucy Elizabeth Ketron (born Hicks), John William Hicks, Carrie Ellen Dickson (born Hicks), Anna Laura Bradley (born Hicks), Thomas J Jr Hicks, W Lynn Hicks, Margaret Hicks, Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86371930/carrie-ellen-dickson, Bloomington, Pickett County, Tennessee, USA, Crestlawn Cemetery, Polk County, Tennessee, USA, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9119259/thomas-jugarthy-hicks, https://www.geni.com/projects/SmartCopy/18783. These babies were born between weighing only 3.5 and 4.75 lbs.. ALL very unfavorable conditions!!!! Looking for a DNA test that's accurate and can tell you about your health and heritage? You have several options when it comes to learning about your DNA, KnowYourDNA is the best source for finding all things related to DNA. Some on here commented that the bio moms were likely unwed and didnt want the babies. 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. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. "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 is anything else your are looking? To push the boundaries of DNA science. Within a decade, he was not only performing illegal abortions but selling newborns on the black market. If it was a black-market clinic, there probably arent any records of the transaction. Could you imagine the survival rate back then for babies 3lb or 4lbs. Hicks was providing a service, Ken Rush, director of the Ducktown Basin Museum, told Narratively. It is possible that deaths like these convinced Dr. Hicks that something needed to be done.. I know your heart aches. Their lower-priced test is fine for your purposes. 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. It was a horrible thing he did to my parents and the rest of us when he stole my oldest brother! How Did Hicks Black Market Babies Business Work? It may be that I never find my brother but maybe I could find his children. This is a story of a doctor who saved lives?? Hicks' wife and son had already passed away. ABC News, accessed 17 September 2019. 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. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186644/Adopted-woman-51-SO Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr worked as Physician. To date, no one knows the exact number of babies he stole and sold on . 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. Personally I hope that Dr Hicks is burning in hell! My YDNA indicates I am not Hicks. 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]. Love and hugs to them all! Unfortunately, Hicks kept no records of the birth mothers. It wouldve been 1964. 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. All of the babies were children of mothers who were persuaded to give up their children for adoption, and were not biological children of Dr. Hicks. 2016. He is the man behind the babies who are now called the Hicks Babies. A legacy linked to illegal adoptions in rural North Georgia, Woman illegally sold to couple by doctor as newborn speaks out with new book: 'story isn't just about me'. Categories: Fannin County, Georgia | McCaysville, Georgia | Hicks Clinic, McCaysville, Georgia, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks Sr Born 18 Oct 1888 in Bloomington, Pickett, Tennessee, United States Ancestors Son of David Fleming Hicks and [mother unknown] [sibling (s) unknown] Husband of Chass (Copeland) Hicks married 7 Jun 1917 in Polk, Tennessee, USA Father of Thomas Jugarthy Hicks Jr Died 5 Mar 1972 at age 83 in Tennessee, United States Not sure how you can justify robbing mothers of their babies (some were told the babies died) or destroying the records so those that wanted to find their biological parents had no way of doing so. I so agree with you. Some of those in his town defend his actions, according to Narratively, saying he was providing a service. His work remained buried as well. 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. 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. The Hicks Community Clinic has been closed for years, but the building still stands. Thats a totally twisted way of thinking!!! 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. now that im older and i actually understand what happened i think its horrible. Clickherefor more information. He was born in April 1964 Sumner County TN from what he knows.