Master In Chancery

An officer of the court of chancery.

The origin of these officers is thus accounted for. The chancellor from the first found it necessary to have a number of clerks, were it for no other purpose, than to perform the mechanical part of the business, the writing; these soon rose to the number of twelve. In process of time this number being found insufficient, these clerks contrived to have other clerks under them, and then, the original clerks became distinguished by the name of masters in chancery. He is an assistant to the chancellor, who refers to him interlocu-tory orders for stating accounts, computing damages, and the like. Masters in chancery are also invested with other powers, by local regulations.

In England there are two kinds of masters in chancery, the ordinary, and the extraordinary..

The masters in ordinary execute the orders of the court, upon references made to them, and certify in writing in what manner they have executed such orders.

The masters extraordinary perform the duty of taking affidavits touching any matter in or relating to the court of chancery, taking the acknowledgment of deeds to be enrolled in the said court, and taking such recognizances, as may by the tenor of the order for entering them, be taken before a master extraordinary.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.