Final answer:
British troops would target Capt. Starr's house in Redding if they believed Sam, a leader in the rebellion, was hiding there, which aligns with their broader strategy of suppressing the rebellion by seizing munitions and capturing its leaders. b) They believe Sam is hiding there
Step-by-step explanation:
The British troops would target Capt. Starr's house in Redding, believing that Sam (probably referring to a figure such as Samuel Adams, a known leader in the American resistance against British governance) is hiding there. This reflects General Gage's orders to seize the munitions and leaders of the rebellion, which included figures such as Samuel Adams and John Hancock. When Gage took steps to prevent news of the British movements from leaving Boston and sought the locations of these leaders, it confirmed the colonists' fears about British intentions. Despite the British efforts to suppress the colonists and intercept their leaders, Adams and Hancock had already left Boston, and the militia's stores had been relocated for safekeeping.
British troops executed raids on towns to seize guns and gunpowder, aiming to dictate law and order. This meant that any strategic location such as Capt. Starr's house, which might be thought to be harboring rebel leaders or stockpiling munitions, would be a likely target for a British attack. The historical context implies that British actions were reactive and aimed to suppress rising rebellion rather than searching for sympathizers or stolen goods.