1776 Pa. Laws 11, An Ordinance RespectingThe Arms Of Non-Associators, § 1

The colonel or next officer in command of every battalion of militia in this state is hereby authorized, empowered and required to collect, receive and take all the arms in his district or township nearest to such officer which are in the hands of non-associators in the most expeditious and effectual manner in his power, and shall give to the owners receipts for such arms, . . .