Melinda, of the Hicks Babies, I have a missing, supposedly deceased infant sister, born in supposedly michigan in 1967, 1968 or 1969. In these cases, Hicks would forge a birth certificate and give the baby to adoptive parents in secret from his Georgia clinic. He was a monster, a murderer, and a kidnapper, but he wasnt a good man doing a good thing for helpless women. Why dig up a grave when dna could have given these people the answer if they were siblings? Mama named my brother Von Gordon. How Did People Find Out About the Hicks Babies? Join the search for truth. That son adopted Sallie, who was featured in the show. Women who wanted abortions would be talked into keeping the pregnancy so he could sell the baby once it arrived. Hicks faced legal trouble for illegal abortions, but not for the illegal adoptions. 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. He then relocated just across the line in McCaysville Georgia. Otherwise he wouldnt have needed to lie about them being stillborn. Stories of young girls dying from botched abortions in the early 50s still exist in the living memories of those from the region. 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. We dont know anything about the adults he has seen. I have a great sample of relatives going back many generations. After watching this documentary I can see how he got away with it for so long. TLC's "Taken at Birth" will explore Thomas J. Hicks. Adopting families from out of town often drove up to the door. Hicks was providing a service, Ken Rush, director of the Ducktown Basin Museum, told Narratively. She is a brave woman who helped a lot of people find answers. That is not correct. "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 These women often came away from faraway places. His clinic, the Hicks Clinic, was in operation between about 1945-1965. 4. And he was stealing babies telling mothers that they delivered a still born. In the documentary they have a positive match for Dr Hicks fathering one of the babies. 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. Login to find your connection. His work remained buried as well. Many had no idea they were adopted until well into adulthood. 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. There are always three sides to any story: One side, the other side, and the truth (which is usually somewhere in between). Her name is Alana honey boo boo if you dont know who she is you can google her. You are absolutely correct in your assumption. Babies came to the mountains with him and babies left the mountains with him. Powered by. Exactly! He reportedly performed abortions, which were illegal at the time, for $100. Surnames in his family tree include Thomas, Fitch, Green, Waddell, and Johnson. It turned into a business. If you havent been there, you cannot possibly imagine what that is like. My name is Judy Swafford Walker. The world is full of possibilities, and you are amazing! The news captivated many outside McCaysville. The illegal adoptions that were allegedly arranged by Dr. Hicks were not discovered until after his death. Sims Family Tree View These Best Collection, Mishima Family Tree Find Best Design For You. Did you like this post? I believe that he provided a valuable service, giving women an alternative, giving a baby a chance at life, giving a couple a chance to be parents. This is how this group of babies, who are now all grown up, came to be called Hicks Babies. You people have no idea how many states/commonwealths this Hicks was in., he was known in the mountains of Pa as Hickscock. For perspective, $1000 in 1950 is equal to about $10,900 in todays dollars. Thank you for visiting dr thomas hicks family tree page. Genealogy for Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr (1888 - 1972) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. I do truly feel for the Hicks babies for not knowing; I know that must be hard. 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. This is accomplished through the careful study of DNA matches. Read our best DNA test page to find the best one for you. The method of the illegal adoptions has left many questions for those who started their lives in Hicks clinic. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. 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. Because the adoptions were illegal and their birth certificate were forged, there are no records of their biological parents which would allow them to find their origins. I was waiting for one mother to come on and say that they were told that their baby had died, but nope. Time is running out. What years was he operating in TN, and where? That is when my older brother was born and my mother was told he was still born even though she told me she heard her baby cry. 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. What he did was awful feel so bad for those mothers and children. He deserved to be paid for his time and services as well after all, this was time he could have spent seeing other patients, and medical equipment and supplies are not cheap. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks died at age 83 on March 5, 1972, after a battle with leukemia. His forged birth certificates did not list biological parents. 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 And he gave the babies to equally desperate childless parents. Have you taken a DNA test yourself? He was protecting himself due to his many illegitimacies & looking out for his own financial interest!!! What is the Levant DNA Region on Ancestry. I have hicks show up in my DNA results. Dr. Hicks died of leukemia in 1972 at the age of 83. Blasio went on to help dozens of Hicks babies so they could track down their birth parents and relatives. Ideas for Getting Responses from DNA Matches. Does it say where he was born or the name of the doctor? His daughter is living in North Carolina, according to Appalachian History. Some babies were that small but not all of them. 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. I used AncestryDNA to solve all of the Hicks cases I worked on. My Hicks line starts in New York in 1833. "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. Some on here commented that the bio moms were likely unwed and didnt want the babies. Our filters are much different than the ones from that period of time. He delivered my oldest brother. Several in the town told the outlet the story was sensationalized. #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, begins Wednesday at 9/8c. Dr Thomas Hicks Family Tree With Complete Detail, Goler Clan Family Tree Check All Members List. Youre as crazy as he was if you think he should even get a pat on the back for his time and services. 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. A sick, twisted & greedy man. 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. Hicks' wife and son had already passed away. 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. This was rural Appalachia in the 50s and 60s, a lot of poor families. Anyways the family is from Georgia and they film there as well. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks performed abortions in the 1950s, long before abortions were legalized in Roe v. Wade. What he did was completely illegal, but was it less moral than aborting these babies? https://thednageek.com/dna-tests. What an awful tragedy. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Some birth mothers knew they were placing a baby for adoption, some thought they had an abortion, and some were told their infants died. Im so sorry for your familys loss. These babies were later sold to adoptive families. Im sorry but thats a totally twisted way of thinking in my view!! Thank you. Moves to NE Ohio and then to Michigan from 1868 to this day. Quietly, because the clinic he'd been running since the mid-1940s was not a licensed adoption agency. Both of Dr. Hicks' parents were born in Tennessee. By learning about the family trees of their 2nd-3rd cousins, they can identify groups of DNA matches who are related to each other through the same common ancestor. $1000 was not a tremendous amount of money when you think about the birth mothers room and board for one month (they had no money, they paid nothing) prior to the birth, plus 24 hr a day Nursing care. Babies were handed out to them through the door or window. Those who were adopted have few places to turn to track down their origins. 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. 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.. In the 1950s and 60s a small-town Georgia family doctor illegally sold hundreds of babies from the back door of his practice. Father of Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Jr; Dr Walter Lynn Hicks and Private 23andMe is on sale right now, so its a good time to buy. His wife and son have both passed away. And then the consistent low birth weights are concerning. 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. Dr. Hicks was a town doctor who performed illegal abortions. Some residents seemed to know the double life he was leading. Husband of Chassie Hicks Hicks was the beloved town doctor in the tiny mountain town of McCaysville, but women came from miles around to seek his services. She grieved her the rest of her life for her first born son. View Ancestry DNA Matches By Ancestor With ThruLines. Her decade-long search for her birth parents led to the exposure of Hicks' illegal babies. My Mama and Dad were married and biological parents to my brother. There is no evidence that any of the babies that were adopted through the actions of Dr. Hicks are related to him. No matter where they grew upmost often in the industrial cities of Ohiotheir birth certificates said they were born in the Hicks Clinic in McCaysville, Georgia. I Just dont understand how anyone could possibly think what he did was right or just or in any way good at all!! She named him Von Gordon. She carried him to full term and went to Dr Hicks to deliver her baby! I was warned about ever asking those questions again, this man said I know who you are, please let it alone. Dr. Hicks was married and had two kids a son and a daughter. But those he left behind have differing opinions on his actions. Looking for a DNA test that's accurate and can tell you about your health and heritage? Thanks, The motives of Hicks actions are unclear. Not to mention the fact that some of these birth mothers thought their babies DIED! His wife was a Baptist Sunday school teacher, according to PEOPLE. At least one Hicks baby submitted his DNA to Ancestry.com and found a half-sister. He buried them for her (such a nice guy) and gave her a birth certificate stating they were stillborn. He induced births, told mothers their babies died and sold them! Somehow I missed this Documentary the first time it aired. 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. And then today, with abortions being legal, aborted babies are having their body parts SOLD what a repugnant thought. 2017. For over 50 years this small town has been hiding a shocking secret. She did not go to him for an abortion or to give her baby away. My husband and I said the same thing while watching this show! 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. He was married to a Baptist Sunday school teacher, according to PEOPLE. The adopted child or biological mother can call and provide information about their gender and birthdate. Barbara, I shuttered when I read your comment! You gotta wonder if this was a routine operation throughout history.
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