[Ads-l] Antedating of "Chain Gang"

[James Landau]

On  Tue, 8 Apr 2025 01:03:42 +0000   "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU> posted
<chain gang (OED 1834)
>>1813 New-York Evening Post 7 Sept. 3 / 4 (Newspapers.com)
>>The chain gang of culprit's [sic] is delivered to their owners.

I don't understand "culprits...their owners:".  
In 1813 slavery was illegal in New York.  Who are the "owners"?

James Landau
jjjrlandau at netscape.com

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