[prion]

Boston patriots, ordered to surrender their firearms

For what? For the use of the army, or just to disarm them?

[Pharmboy]

To disarm them. There were many riots in Boston (Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party) between 1770 and 1775; from 1765 to 1770, most of the action against the Crown took place in New York City, but then shifted north.

Remember: the reason the Brits marched to Lexington Mass. was that they heard the colonists had arms stored out there. They were serious about disarming the Patriots.