Chilili is thought to be the Tewa Pueblo word for 'weak spring', and is one of the oldest recorded place names in New Mexico, founded in 1581 by Chamuscado. Onate visited this site 17 years later.
Because of the hostile Apaches, Chilili was abandoned from 1669 to 1676. The current village of Chilili was founded in 1841. The original townsite is located 2 miles east of this main village. The Chilili post office was in operation from 1882 til 1937.
The official name of this cemetery is San Juan Nepomuceno Cemtery. A sign states: La Merced de Chilili protectio under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Article 2 Section 5, confirmed by the Act of Congress 1858 (11 - Stat - 374) 1909 U.S.A Patented Surveyed by USA Surveyor General in 1882. No land sale within the boundaries.
This cache is placed here as a tribute to those pioneers of the Chilili area that are buried here. We solicite your efforts as a cacher to place a cache at or near a cemetery of your choice.