Janice, I am from Polk County Tennessee as well and Dr Hicks delivered my oldest brother before they ran him out of Tennessee. New York Times, accessed 17 September 2019. It is possible that deaths like these convinced Dr. Hicks that something needed to be done.. I still dont know, one of the Hicks Babies, Melinda, told the publication. He was protecting himself & looking out for his own financial interest!!! Mama had seven more babies after that(Im the youngest)she never stopped grieving for her oldest son. Oops, we were unable to send the email. The cost is the same for you. Unfortunately, Hicks kept no records of the birth mothers. But it wasnt till the late 90s that a darker truth was revealed to him in a newspaper article. was there more than one Dr. Hicks mentioned in the Taken AT Birth documentary or just one? Thus, the legacy of Dr. Thomas Hicks remains an unanswered mystery of many residents in the dual border towns of Copperhill-McCaysville. Dr. Thomas J. Hicks performed abortions in the 1950s, long before abortions were legalized in Roe v. Wade. 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. Ive heard that many times in my life by a lot of people. Today, these babies are referred to as "Hicks babies.". He reportedly performed abortions, which were illegal at the time, for $100. Dr. Hicks was considered a cornerstone in the Copperhill-McCaysville community where he served as the town doctor. Is like $10,000. When they opened it up there was great excitement. i just hope i wont go made like them. I sincerely hope more can make connections before its too late. Investigators opened the mausoleum, searching for records of the illegal adoptions, but found it was empty. Weve updated the security on the site. 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. 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. Shame on him and all those who covered for him and his horrific lies. 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? Hicks was performing abortions long before Roe. He was inducing them around 30 weeks handing out 4lb babies to people. 116 reviews Leave a review . 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'. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. He knows he lucked out by landing with his loving parents, the late Jean and Robert Stapleton. 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. Dr Hicks told some of the mothers that their babies died, then he sold them. 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. Somehow I missed this Documentary the first time it aired. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. Dr. Thomas Hicks has a large mausoleum which bares his name at Crest Lawn Cemetery, standing tall above many of the other cemetery plots marked with headstones. What he did was awful feel so bad for those mothers and children. They can arrange a meeting if a match shows up and both sides want to meet. Blasio has dedicated her life to helping reunite Hicks Babies with their biological families. Copyright 2023 The DNA Geek Ascension WordPress theme by, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). It turned into a business. At-home DNA testing wasnt available until recently. Bloomington, Pickett County, Tennessee, USA. 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. Babies came to the mountains with him and babies left the mountains with him. He wasnt going around knocking girls up and holding them hostage in his apartment until they delivered their babies so he could sell them.. 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, Many affordable DNA tests can help you quickly discover your genetic makeup. As I watched this documentary it made me think of the story my mother told many timesas her grandmother told hershe (my mother) was born in Oliver Springs TN.. (a little over two hours from McCaysville GA) A Dr Stone dilivered her and told her mother that she didnt make it meanwhile shes lying on a cart covered up with a sheet outside the room when her grandmother realizes shes there picked her up blew into her mouth then spanked her bottom and she started crying. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 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. He sold those babies for a profit. 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. She grieved for him her entire life! You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Some birth mothers knew they were placing a baby for adoption, some thought they had an abortion, and some were told their infants died. I just wanted to say I watch this show about a little girl. English You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. based on information from your browser. He reportedly performed abortions, which were illegal at the time, for $100. But still, deep down, Stapleton has a desire to learn more about his birth family. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Remember that these women had no where else to go, no one to turn to. Dawson says in. So many of the women were told their babies had died. My YDNA indicates I am not Hicks. Thomas J. After submitting his DNA to Ancestry.com last year, he has found key family members though not all of them were keen on a warm, fuzzy reunion. You really have no idea what you are talking about! Oops, we were unable to send the email. Those who were adopted have few places to turn to track down their origins. And he was more than happy to perform abortions. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Those who were adopted have few places to turn to track down their origins. Get Directions. What people dont realize is Doc Hicks started his practice in Tennessee. Aside from families that might eventually tell their adult children, the only hope Hicks babies have of finding their biological relatives is DNA tracking. He buried them for her (such a nice guy) and gave her a birth certificate stating they were stillborn. Women came by bus, car and train to pay $100 to "fix their problem." I know your heart aches. She noted to the TV station many of them went to good homes and led successful lives. What Happened To Dr. Hicks And His Associates? When Dr. Hicks began his illicit practice, abortions were illegal in the United States, Phil Trexler wrote in the article. "It was just an investigation, and I don't like being told no," she. If there was no demand for the service. Dr. Hicks would then sell the babies for $800 to $1,000 each and would provide a forged birth certificate with the adoptive parents on the documents. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Hicks had a well earning through his clinic, "Hicks Community Clinic" where he secretly sold hundreds of babies illegally as $1000 for a child to the adoptive . Its time the truth came to light. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Looking for a DNA test that's accurate and can tell you about your health and heritage? Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Hicks, who died in 1972, illegally sold nearly 200 newborns into black market adoptions between 1950 and 1965. I can promise you this, if theres a hell, he is in the front row seat! Such an evil man to cause such heart ache! Some theorized Hicks was buried beside his mausoleum because of concern the grave would be vandalized. People, accessed 17 September 2019. I am the youngest of seven siblings. My name is Judy Swafford Walker. 2016. No one with half a brain can even think that is good. She did not go to him for an abortion or to give her baby away. HE WAS A HORRIBLE MAN, JUST HORRIBLE!!! The Hicks Babies. She has a B.S. The birth certificates Ive seen were in the 6-7 lb range. He was protecting himself due to his many illegitimacies & looking out for his own financial interest!!! Dr. Thomas Hicks Death: How Did the Doctor Die? I saw him do more good than I think he did harm. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Hi, the category is just Category:McCaysville, Georgia. You got a problem with that? When they opened it up there was great excitement. now that im older and i actually understand what happened i think its horrible. Hicks initially lost his clinic for doing illicit abortions. This practice was tolerated by the community and he normally was allegedly paid about $100 to perform the illegal practice. So no, I cant completely vilify as I just dont know. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. He also has a living granddaughter named Sally Sompayrac. He then relocated just across the line in McCaysville Georgia. These babies were born between 3.5 and 4.75 lbs.. very unfavorable!! I have hicks show up in my DNA results. He ran the Hicks Community Clinic and offered his services to poor copper mining families. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. He soon developed a clandestine reputation of a physician who could provide a baby for adoption. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Exactly! The illegal adoptions came to an end in 1964, when Hicks was caught performing illegal abortions. Those who likely knew what happened may have died as well. Yes, thats a horrible thought. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. They should at least be thankful that they werent aborted. Are you nuts? Jane Blasio's search for her birth mother in McCaysville, Ga, brings to light the black-market sale of as many as 200 babies delivered there by the late Dr Thomas Jugarthy Hicks between 1951 and . He took HUGE risks for essentially very little in return, in fact he did lose his medical license in 1964 for performing an abortion. Add to your scrapbook. Did the births take place at the Hicks Clinic? Selling babies wasn't Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks' primary business in McCaysville. So all of what you said is ridiculous. His wife and son both passed away, and his daughter lives in North Carolina, according to Appalachian History. According to the neonatalogist interviewed in the show many other babies must have died. Please reset your password. I can empathize because of some similarities, but I cannot fully understand. Jane Blasio, who broke the story of the Hicks Babies and leads investigative efforts, wrote her thoughts about Hicks on her website. Charles C. Duncan officiating. We just were not there and will never know his thoughts. They were all corrupt! 1997. It turned into a business. As a result, he could not provide information that would help the babies find their parents or the other way around.4. We dont know anything about the adults he has seen. Taken at Birth TrueStory https://t.co/E14faD7AFT pic.twitter.com/cXOtajC4yQ, Sugar Mummy (@findsugarmummy) October 9, 2019. I used AncestryDNA to solve all of the Hicks cases I worked on. There was an error deleting this problem. Theyre an invaluable resource for parentage searches. Their lower-priced test is fine for your purposes. 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. "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN5X-3HV: 3 February 2021), Thomas J Hicks, 1920. But lets be honest, no one is going to admit that they willingly sold their baby. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Are you in all of the DNA databases? He gave the adoptive parents a fake birth certificate and left no records of the birth mothers. English He advertised on phone booths, bus stations and bridges. Hicks, a family physician who performed illegal abortions in the 50s and 60s in McCaysville, Ga., also delivered babies and sold them to couples in off-the-books adoptions. You should be ashamed of yourself because you have no idea of the pain he caused many families! That son adopted Sallie, who was featured in the show. Known as the Hicks Babies, several have been able to find out the truth about their past. He lost his medical license in 1964, but he faced no jail time for the illegal abortions. John and Cyndy were just two of more than 200 newborns sold by Dr. Thomas Hicks, a doctor in McCaysville, Ga., who was selling babies out of the back door of his clinic in the 1950s and 60s. Moves to NE Ohio and then to Michigan from 1868 to this day. So that he could make money. Although Hicks, his wife and son are dead, their daughter is still alive. But in untangling the complicated web surrounding Hicks, the show opens a small towns vault of secrets, leading to bittersweet reunions and DNA bombshells. 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. 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. GREAT NEWS! To push the boundaries of DNA science. I still dont know, Melinda told Narratively. On a much smaller scale, a similar adoption scandal that also included illegal abortions occurred in the small towns of Copperhill, Tennessee and McCaysville, Georgia area between 1950 and the early 1960s. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. She is a brave woman who helped a lot of people find answers. 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. www.cochranfuneralhomes.com. Hicks died at age 83 in 1972. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Dr. Hicks had a granddaughter, Sally Sompayrac, who empathizes with the plight of the Hicks babies. Dr. Hicks obviously cannot give his side of the story. The Dr Hicks who ran the black-market adoptions had a son who became a dentist. The hardest thing is, emotionally, I dont show a lot. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Shameful + Sinful + Criminal + Evil!! To date, no one knows the exact number of babies he stole and sold on the black market. While its, The offerings from each DNA testing service vary wildly, so it can be difficult. At least one Hicks baby submitted his DNA to Ancestry.com and found a half-sister. If there was no demand for the service, Hicks would not have been doing it. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. The adopted child or biological mother can call and provide information about their gender and birthdate. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. But decades later, many of the Hicks Babies are still looking for their birth parents. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Dr Harshi Dhingra is a licensed medical doctor with a specialization in Pathology. Thanks for your help! Test prices are here: https://thednageek.com/dna-tests/ Please try again later. Dr. Community Organization. Resend Activation Email. The second would have been no later than 1962. We have set your language to pic.twitter.com/aTH43ks3Co. Thomas Hicks McCAYSVILLE, Ga. READ NEXT: Dr. Thomas Hicks, The Doctor Who Sold More Than 200 Babies: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. We can tell ourselves stories, and they become our truths. I know this first hand because of how it deeply hurt my mother for many, many years! cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. When she woke she only had one baby. Apparently these women were seeking abortions, not babies. Im disgusted that someone would think that this is ok. What he did has no merit. You made your decision. Most of the children were adopted by Akron-area families who couldnt afford the costly traditional route of adoption and many of whom were unaware of Hicks dark methods. Dr Hicks quickly hushed the nurse and gave my grandma something to make her sleep. He lied to many and told them their babies died! Dr Hicks ran a clinic in McCaysville, Georgia, from about 1945 to 1965. You arent responsible for their sins. Thank you. The late Georgia doctor, Dr. Thomas Hicks had quiet a great earning considering his career as a successful doctor and also through his illegal activities. Melinda, of the Hicks Babies, I have a missing, supposedly deceased infant sister, born in supposedly michigan in 1967, 1968 or 1969. Dr. Thomas Hicks died more than two decades before the black market baby adoptions came to light, but the doctor was not buried with his secrets. As for Hicks, Stapleton knows the story isnt cut and dried. She grieved her the rest of her life for her first born son. Im sorry but thats a totally twisted way of thinking in my view!! Theres nothing there.. On another point, Ive heard it said that Dr. Hicks disposed of aborted babies in the river. Dawson has known since age 7 her parents got her from the McCaysville clinic run by Hicks, who died in 1972. Green Sod Above Lie Light, Lie Light. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Through town records, he and Atress, who is not a Hicks baby and was raised by her maternal family, found their father, who is now 83. The McCaysville group is connected to Dr. Thomas Hicks, the town doctor and a popular, church-going man, revered by locals for his generosity. Weve updated the security on the site. The charges didnt mention that he sold babies or had them illegally adopted. They theorized he was buried next to the mausoleum, instead of inside of it, so his body was not disturbed, according to the article. Our filters are much different than the ones from that period of time. Hicks may not have been in Georgia during that time, but if he was in TN that might be a lead. His wife and son have both passed away. What Happened to Dr. Thomas Hicks? Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. "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 He induced births, told mothers their babies died and sold them! This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Have you taken a DNA test? 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. Not to mention the fact that some of these birth mothers thought their babies DIED! 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. But he didnt know about the black market.. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? 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 . There is a problem with your email/password. #TakenAtBirth, a 3-night special event, begins TONIGHT at 9/8c. He died at age 83 in 1972 of leukemia, according to Appalachian History. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. I may have a couple brothers out there. Many in the town told Narratively the black market babies story was sensationalized in the media. pic.twitter.com/3dg3CRes3u. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Dr. Hicks was married and had two kids a son and a daughter. Try again. The Hicks Community Clinic has been closed for years, but the building still stands. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Some babies were that small but not all of them. Drag images here or select from your computer for Dr Walter Lynn Hicks memorial. He was a good man, a good-hearted man. Once you sit down and start meeting people individually and you start listening to everybodys story, its like a big family, adds Stapleton. What an awful tragedy. What Dr Hicks did was illegal. Clearly, you have never lost a child. They may not even know theyre adopted. There are always three sides to any story: One side, the other side, and the truth (which is usually somewhere in between). Does it say where he was born or the name of the doctor? Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. He gave them good care. Dr. Thomas Hicks was a small-town Georgia doctor who was accused of selling hundreds of babies in illegal adoptions. And the pair have formed an easy bond: We have matching DNA tree tattoos on our backs, Stapleton says of his sister Atress Davis. The townspeople believed he encouraged pregnant women who came to him to carry their babies to term instead. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He was born October 18, 1888. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. They adored Dr Hicks and were fiercely protective of his reputation and legacy. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Jane Blasio, The Hicks Baby Who Broke the Black Market Baby Adoption Case: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. There was a problem getting your location. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn more about yourself. And he gave the babies to equally desperate childless parents. How did Dr. Hicks die? Ive heard the same story over and over, that the mother heard her baby cry but was told it was stillborn. Thank you. Stories of young girls dying from botched abortions in the early 50s still exist in the living memories of those from the region. 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! How Did Hicks Black Market Babies Business Work? For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. He died in 1972 at age 83, which was 25 years before the shocking story of his black market baby ring came to light.

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