I would love to be able to find him or maybe some of his family. Blasio confirmed with the county birth records that she was likely one of the hundreds of babies sold between 1950 and 1965.2. During the years that he ran his clinic, the town was at its population peak of between 1,800-2,000 residents. Youve got poor, pregnant, unmarried women, who then need to come up with a story for their friends and/or families as to why there is no newborn . How Did People Find Out About the Hicks Babies? Moves to NE Ohio and then to Michigan from 1868 to this day. Both of Dr. Hicks' parents were born in Tennessee. Busted not for selling babies, but for the abortion clinic. Mama never got over this. So telling the one mother her twin boys were stillborn is acceptable to you. 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. 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. Jane Blasio, who broke the story of the Hicks Babies and leads investigative efforts, wrote her thoughts about Hicks on her website. She said she heard her baby cry then Doc Hicks told her he was still born. Learn how three Hicks babies were able to find biological family using DNA. In addition, he did serve time in jail in Tennessee for illegally dispensing narcotics in the 1940s. What he did to all of those families was very wrong. He sold those babies for a profit. Some theorized Hicks was buried beside his mausoleum because of concern the grave would be vandalized. Have you heard the story of Dr. Hicks? This is how this group of babies, who are now all grown up, came to be called Hicks Babies. Has your family done any dna tests like 23andme or ancestry? In other cases, he said their babies were stillborn and died before or during delivery. His wife was a Baptist Sunday school teacher, according to PEOPLE. Jane needs to get a DNA test and compare it to Doris Abernathy, the town historian. https://t.co/900llb4znH, Angel Patriot?? At least 200 babies had their identities stolen. I just wanted to say I watch this show about a little girl. Im sure there are also many, many Hicks babies out there that have no idea they are Hicks babies. Hed do anything for anybody sometimes hed pay a price for it, she said. I have a great sample of relatives going back many generations. 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. She was present when authorities opened the mausoleum. Ive heard the same story over and over, that the mother heard her baby cry but was told it was stillborn. To push the boundaries of DNA science. Both of Dr. Hicks parents were born in Tennessee. Time is running out. Unfortunately, Hicks kept no records of the birth mothers. Those who were adopted have few places to turn to track down their origins. AND IN ALL ACTUALITY HICKS LIED TO HER TO GET HER TWIN BOYS AND MADE OVER 2000 OFF OF HER PAIN. Within a decade, he was not only performing illegal abortions but selling newborns on the black market. What he did has no merit. Then you missed the entirety of the story. He then relocated just across the line in McCaysville Georgia. The reason I am writing is this. Women came to give birth, and were told their babies were stillborn! Narratively, accessed 17 September 2019. She assumed it was a legal adoption until he told her otherwise. Maybe hes out there and will search for you. This is a different story than what I expected! Hicks died at age 83 in 1972. i was told i was born in raymond wa. Taken at Birth: The Hicks Clinic Stolen Babies, Best Food Sensitivity Test To Take At Home (2023), The Best DNA Tests (for Health, Ancestry, and Ethnicity), Best At-Home Allergy & Intolerance Tests (2023), We Took The Viome Gut Test Heres Our Verdict. The primary purpose of this post is to explain how those children who were adopted through the Hicks Clinic have been able to use their DNA to discover close relatives, and sometimes, the identities of their biological parents. Hicks Baby Adoptee Sold by Georgia Doctor 50 Years Ago Reunites With Birth Mother, Brother. Her only health problem was asthma. Her decade-long search for her birth parents led to the exposure of Hicks' illegal babies. Dr Thomas Hicks Family Tree With Complete Detail, Goler Clan Family Tree Check All Members List. The Dr Hicks who ran the black-market adoptions had a son who became a dentist. Im sorry but thats a totally twisted way of thinking in my view!! Some were children of women Hicks convinced not to have abortions. News, TLC Shows. 'Taken at Birth' lead Jane Blasio Q&A: Akron woman blew - Cleveland He is the man behind the babies who are now called the Hicks Babies. Many people who fell victim to the Hicks baby market hope these DNA tests will help them find closure. Well he and Alannas birth father very similar. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. He also has a living granddaughter named Sally Sompayrac. We only know about the ones who survived. He is buried in Crest Lawn Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. If so, login to add it. Expand. Nor did he put women in touch with legal adoption providers. (@Angel5Christine) October 8, 2019. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. There are always three sides to any story: One side, the other side, and the truth (which is usually somewhere in between). He ran the Hicks Community Clinic and offered his services to poor copper mining families. I dont know. The judge discovered records showing an unusual number of women visiting Hicks clinic. Genealogy for Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks, Sr (1888 - 1972) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. To give Sallie an answer. It may have started with good intentions, but these babies deserve the truth and they deserve it now. Holy smokes! To date, no one knows the exact number of babies he stole and sold on . Blasio knew she was adopted at a young age. But those he left behind have differing opinions on his actions. I hope your brother decides to test someday. Ideas for Getting Responses from DNA Matches. You made your decision. 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 motives of Hicks actions are unclear. Thank you. So, what you are saying is, when my mom went to deliver my BROTHER and was told he was born dead, yet she has nightmares TO THIS DAY that she heard her baby cry for her. "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. 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. One thousand dollars in 1955 would be nearly $10,000 today. How Did Hicks Black Market Babies Business Work? I am happy to offer a dna sample if possible. She did NOT go to him for an abortion, she went to deliver MY BROTHER. This is how those who were adopted can identify the parents or grandparents of their biological parents. This man not only took away peoples family history, but ruined their future as well. 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. Starting in 1955 and running through the early 1960s, Hicks offered secretive abortions and adoptions here. So many of the women were told their babies had died. 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. 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. And he was more than happy to perform abortions. Hicks was the beloved town doctor in the tiny mountain town of McCaysville, but women came from miles around to seek his services. When I told my parents about this documentary.. My dad said well back then they didnt have the equipment to deal with infants like they to do today my response was oh they didnt know to clear the air passage way and slap a baby on the bottom? I grew up with this story from my grandfather when i was little. However, only four of his siblings survived to adulthood. That is not correct. Now, my family has to wonder, is he out there? Sompayrac believes her grandfathers actions helped the birth mothers in need and gave the babies life. Ray, you bring up an excellent reason why everyone has the right to know who their biological family is. Some babies were that small but not all of them. The same lecture is offered twiceNovember 1 and 2, 2022to accommodate schedules and time zones. 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. 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 And the $1k sounds about like what my Dad was sold for. Hicks lied, blatantly, to some of these women, hell probably 90% of them. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks performed abortions in the 1950s, long before abortions were legalized in Roe v. Wade. I may have a couple brothers out there. We could be related. 2017. 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. His death occurred in 1972, long before any of the children that had been adopted illegally through Dr. Hicks clinic had discovered the truth about their origins.