WHM - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Worcester get its name?
No one knows for sure, but there are two most prevalent opinions. Some believe the name Worcester comes from the Saxon Wegeraceaster, meaning war castle, while others say that the city may be named after the Battle of Worcester (UK) in 1561.

What are the seven hills of Worcester?
While this question is hotly debated the widely accepted seven hills of Worcester are:

1) Pakachoag (Mount St. James)-where the largest of Nipmuck Indians lived.

2) Sagatabscot (Union Hill)-the second settlement, where Digory Sargent was killed in his home by Indians in 1701.

3) Hancock Hill -once owned by John Hancock.

4) Chandler Hill (Belmosy Hill)-site of the first reservoir, the oldest Armenian Church in the United States, and East Park.

5) Green Hill -ancestral home of the Green family since 1755, now a public park.

6) Bancroft Hill -named for the well-known historian, George Bancroft.

7) NewtonHill -farmland that was purchased by the city for a public park.

When did Worcester become a city?
It was incorporated a town in 1722 and a city in 1848.

If you have a question not answered here, please contact library@worcesterhistory.org.