MASTER IN CHANCERY. An officer of the court of chancery.
2. 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 interlocutory orders for stating accounts, computing damages, and the
like. Masters in chancery are also invested with other powers, by local
regulations. Vide Blake's Ch. Pr. 26; 1 Madd. Pr. 8 1 Smith's Ch. Pr. 9, 19.
3. In England there are two kinds of masters in chancery, the ordinary,
and the extraordinary..
4.-1. 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. 1 Sm. Ch. Pr. 9.
5.-2. 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. 1 Sm. Ch. Pr. 19. Vide, generally, 1 Harg.
Law Tr. 203, a Treatise of the Maister of the Chauncerie.