MASTER IN CHANCERY. An offi cer of a court of chancery, who acts ss an assistant to the chancellor. 3 Edw. Ch.N. Y. 458 ; 19 Ill. 131.
Tbe masters were originally clerks associated with the chancellor, to discharge soma of the more mechanical duties of hie office. They were called preeeptorea, and gradually increased in number until there were twelve of them. They obtained tha title of masters in the reign of Edw. III. Their office is mainly judicial in its chnrscter, but sometimes inelndas ministerial offices. See 1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 360-367; I Harr. Ch. Mich. 436 ; 1 Bail. Ch. So. C. 77; 1 Des. Ch. So. C. 587. The office wae abolished in England by the 15 & 16 Viot. e. 80. In tha 'United States, officers of this name exist in tnany of the states, with similar powers to those exercised by the English masters, but variously modified, restrioted, and enlarged by statute, and in some of die states similar officers are called commissioners and by other titles.
The duties of the masters are, generally': first, to take accounts and make computa tions, 18 HoW. 295 ; 2 Munf. Va. 129 ; 14 Vt. 5'01; 27 id. 673 ; Walk. Ch. Miss. 532 ; second, to niake inquiries and report facts, 3 Woodb.
& M. C. C. 258 ; 3 Paige Ch. N. Y. 305 ; 23 Conn. 529 ; 1 Stockt. Ch.'N. J. 309 i 2 Jones, 2q. No. C. 238 ; 5 Gray, Mass. 423 ; 5 Cal. 90; see 1 Freem. Ch. 502 ; 9 Paige, Ch. N. Y.. 372 ; third, to perfOrm some special minis terial acts directed by the court, such as the sale of property, 11 Humphr. Tenn. 278 ; 25 Barb. N. Y. 440, settlement of deeds, see 1 Cow. N. Y. 711, appointment of new trustees, and the like, 1 13arbour Chanc. Pract. 468 ; fourth, to dischaige suc'li 'duties as are spe cially charged upon them by' statute. See