Extracted From:
  A LAW DICTIONARY ..., SIXTH EDITION, 1856
  by John Bouvier, CHILDS & PETERSON, PHILADELPHIA

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 interlocutory 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.. 

a. 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....

b. 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....

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