Introduction
Chelmsford, along with other towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, contributed to the development of Harvard College. (1) Yes, that Harvard whose endowment fund today is roughly $56.9 billion. (2)
Was Chelmsford rewarded for its investment?
Initially, in 1636, the reason for building the school was to ensure that there would be an ample supply of religious leaders for the colony. The colony’s leaders feared that as the current lot of ministers aged, there would be a dwindling supply of less educated religious leaders to lead the towns of the colony. So, the Massachusetts Bay Colony funded the founding of Harvard College with a 400 British pounds investment. Chelmsford was not incorporated as a town until 1655. (3)
When the school’s buildings needed to be replaced in the late 1670’s, the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, at the request of the college, required the towns in the colony to contribute to the school to repair/replace the buildings and Chelmsford stepped up. Not all towns did. These contributions were known as “subscriptions” and the amount was set by the General Court. (4)
Chelmsford’s subscription was set at 21 pounds and 15 schillings, roughly $7000 in 2025. Not an insignificant amount for a frontier town where town folks grew their own food, made their own clothes and cut their own firewood. (5) Also, they bartered for anything they did not have. Cash was not readily available. So, for the town to contribute this amount was not trivial. But they were motivated to ensure that their children and future generations would be led by educated religious leaders.
Subscriptions in 1680
| Town (1680) | Original Contribution | Approx. 2025 Equivalent (USD) |
| Charlestown | £268 7s 8d (~£268.39) | ≈ $85,000 – $100,000 |
| Cambridge | £182 6s (~£182.30) | ≈ $58,000 – $65,000 |
| Concord | £44 14s 10d (~£44.74) | ≈ $14,000 – $16,000 |
| Woburn | £27 2s (~£27.10) | ≈ $8,500 – $9,500 |
| Chelmsford | £21 15s (~£21.75) | ≈ $6,500 – $7,500 |
| Billerica (“Belerica”) | ~£5–£6 (partial) | ≈ $1,500 – $2,000 |
| Malden | £10 | ≈ $3,000 – $3,500 |
Rewards
Chelmsford benefited from their investment both in the short-term and in the long-term. The next five ministers in town Reverends Clark, Stoddard, Bridge, Allen and Packard. were all graduates of Harvard. Also, the son of Reverend Clark, Jonas Clark and the son of Reverend Stoddard, Samson Stoddard were graduates and town leaders.
But it was in the long-term where Chelmsford really profited. Led by these trained religious leaders education became a priority for the town. By participating in this institution-building the town saw itself as a part of a larger Puritan Commonwealth that placed value on literacy, ministry and collective investment in future generations.
Sources:
(1) Harvard University. “History and Timeline of Harvard University.” Harvard University. Accessed December 4, 2025.
(2) Harvard University. “Endowment.” Harvard University. Accessed December 4, 2025.
(3) Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Vol. 1, 1628–1641. Acts establishing Harvard College, 1636–1639.
(4) Colonial Society of Massachusetts Harvard College Records Subscription by Towns 1680 Harvard College Records Volume 49
(5) “Purchasing Power of British Pounds from 1270 to Present.” Measuring Worth. Accessed December 4, 2025.
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