THE PACELY • PAICELY • PACLEY FAMILY HISTORY

Our Family Heritage

One of the greatest gifts we can leave for future generations is the story of where we came from. This history represents our collective effort to remember and preserve as much of our family's past as possible—from our earliest known ancestors to our grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Through these shared connections, we celebrate what unites us most: Family.

The Beginning of Our Family Tree

Although we do not know the names of our earliest ancestors, we know that the family's surname was Pacely. They had a son named Jacob Pacely, who later married Louvenia. Together, Jacob and Louvenia became the foundation of the Pacely family tree as we know it today.

Family tradition tells us they were God-fearing people who truly believed in the biblical instruction to "Be fruitful and multiply." They certainly lived by those words, and because of them, generations of descendants continue to gather today.

Jacob and Louvenia represent what we recognize as our First Generation.

The Second Generation

Jacob and Louvenia Pacely were blessed with thirteen children, who make up the Second Generation of our family.

Their children were:

• Eli Clark

• Josephine

• Jacob

• Alfred

• Mary

• Jerusha

• Caroline

• Rose Anna

• Mandie

• Zelphie

• Robert

• Classie

• Willie

Based on the research available at the time this history was originally written, Jacob and Louvenia's descendants included approximately:

• 55 grandchildren

• 59 great-grandchildren

• 75 great-great-grandchildren

Since then, our family has continued to grow through many additional generations.

The Three Family Spellings

As the family expanded, members began moving to different parts of the United States in search of new opportunities and to establish homes of their own.

According to family tradition, two brothers eventually changed the spelling of their surname. This is believed to be the origin of the three family names we proudly share today:

• Pacely

• Paicely

• Pacley

While we continue researching the exact circumstances surrounding these changes, all three spellings represent branches of the same family tree and the same shared heritage.

The Beginning of Our Family Reunions

Our first national family reunion was held in Detroit, Michigan, from July 25–27, 1980.

This historic gathering was organized through the dedication of the late Lottie (Pacely) Evans ("Aunt Lottie") and the late Lillie Mae (Pacely) George.

Following Detroit, the reunion was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, under the leadership of the late David Paicely and the Indianapolis reunion committee. The reunion later returned to Detroit, and it was originally planned that reunions would continue every two years.

A New Beginning

Eventually, the family reunions came to an end. Although local family picnics continued for a time in Detroit, they also became difficult to maintain as many of our older family members experienced health challenges and could no longer carry the responsibility of organizing the events.

In 1995, a younger family member, Annie Marie (Robinson) Baker ("Ann"), granddaughter of John Elliott Pacely, decided it was time to reunite the family once again.

She contacted as many relatives as possible, encouraged everyone to come together, and volunteered to serve as president while organizing a committee to help make the reunion a reality.

Her dedication resulted in another successful family reunion picnic on August 26, 1995, and since then, our family has proudly continued the tradition of gathering every two years.

Our Family Continues to Grow

Since restarting our reunions, our family has gathered in numerous states, including:

• Michigan

• Georgia

• Florida

• Texas

• Mississippi

Family members have traveled from across the country to celebrate our shared heritage.

Today, descendants of Jacob and Louvenia Pacely live throughout the United States, including in:

• Alabama

• California

• Florida

• Georgia

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Michigan

• Mississippi

• Ohio

• Pennsylvania

• Texas

Each reunion reminds us that although we may live many miles apart, we remain connected by our family history.

Preserving Our History

Tracing our family tree has been both exciting and rewarding. During our research, we have noticed that names such as John, Edward, Obadiah, and Jerusha appear repeatedly throughout multiple generations.

Family stories shared during the first reunion in 1980 also tell us that our Pacely ancestors were not enslaved. One tradition suggests that a Pacely ancestor purchased the freedom of and married a Choctaw woman. While this account has been passed down through generations, we continue to research and document our family's history to better understand and verify these stories.

For many years, we also wondered about the origin of our surname. Family research has suggested that Pacely may have Scottish or Irish origins, although additional documentation is still being sought.

Honoring Our Elders

At the time this history was originally updated in 2005, the two oldest living members of the family were:

• Homer Luther Pacely, son of Eli Clark Pacely

• Tom Pacley, son of Robert Pacely

Eli Clark Pacely and Robert Pacely were brothers, both sons of Jacob and Louvenia Pacely, our First Generation ancestors.

Their lives served as a living bridge between our family's earliest generations and those who continue the legacy today.

Continuing the Legacy

Our family history is still being written.

Every photograph, birth certificate, obituary, family Bible, military record, land record, newspaper article, and personal story helps us better understand who we are and where we came from.

If you enjoy genealogy or historical research, we invite you to join us in preserving the legacy of the Pacely, Paicely, and Pacley families.

Together, we can ensure that our history is remembered, our ancestors are honored, and our future generations know the remarkable story of the family they proudly belong to.