Ontario. Court of Chancery. Local Masters

• Local Masters

Local Masters of the Court of Chancery were established by legislation in 1850 in order to expedite cases in Chancery and to promote the local administration of justice. These officials were appointed by the Chancery Judges.

In 1881, the Ontario Judicature Act was passed which considerably reorganized the court system in Ontario. With this change, the Local Masters for the Court of Chancery were replaced with Local Masters of the Supreme Court.

The following is a simple alphabetical listing of the counties/districts that existed within the Province between 1850 and 1881 (with Dt.= District and Co.=County), along with the dates for which they existed: Algoma Dt. (1859- ); Brant Co. (1853- ); Bruce Co. (1867- ); Carleton Co. ( 1850-1969); Elgin Co. (1853- ); Essex, Kent and Lambton United Cos. (1850-1851); Essex and Lambton United Cos. (1851-1853); Essex Co. (1853- ); Frontenac, Lennox and Addington United Cos. (1850-1865); Frontenac Co. (1865- ); Grey Co. (1853- ); Haldimand Co. (1851-1974); Haliburton Co. (1874- ); Halton Co. (1855-1973); Hastings Co. (1850- ); Huron, Perth and Bruce United Cos. (1850- 1853); Huron and Bruce United Cos. (1853-1867); Huron Co. (1867- ); Kent Co. (1851- ); Lambton Co. (1853- ); Lanark and Renfrew United Cos. (1850-1866); Lanark Co. (1866- ); Leeds and Grenville United Cos. (1850- ); Lennox and Addington United Co. (1865- ); Lincoln, Haldimand and Welland United Cos. (1850-1851); Lincoln and Welland United Cos. (1851-1856); Lincoln Co. (1856- 1970); Middlesex Co. (1850-1851; 1853- ); Middlesex and Elgin United Cos. (1851-1853); Nipissing Dt. (1858- ); Norfolk Co. (1850-1974); Northumberland and Durham United Cos. (1850-1973); Ontario Co. (1853-1973); Oxford Co. (1850- ); Peel Co. (1866-1973); Perth Co. (1853- ); Peterborough Co. (1850-1851; 1863- ); Peterborough and Victoria United Cos. (1851-1863); Prescott and Russell United Cos. (1850- ); Prince Edward Co. (1850- ); Renfrew Co. (1866- ); Simcoe Co. (1850- ); Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Cos. (1850- ); Victoria Co. (1863- ); Waterloo Co. (1850-1851; 1853- 1973); Waterloo, Wellington and Grey United Cos. (1851-1853); Wellington Co.and Halton United Cos. (1850-1851; 1853-1855); Wentworth, Halton and Brant United Cos. (1851-1853); Wentworth Co. (1855-1973); York Co. (1850-1851; 1866-1970); York, Ontario and Peel United Cos. (1851-1853); and York and Peel United Cos. (1853-1866).

Local Masters of the Court of Chancery served as Deputy Registrars. The duties of Local Masters were to be performed in the same manner as like duties were performed by the Master in Ordinary. The Master was equivalent to a Local Judge, except that the Master did not sit in open court. He heard and disposed of applications pertaining to: appointment of guardians ad litem for infants; time to answer or demur; leave to amend before replication; postpone the examination of witnesses or to allow further time for the production of evidence; for security of costs.

An Act for the more effectual Administration of Justice in the Court of Chancery in Upper Canada, Statutes of the Province of Canada 1850, Chap. 50

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Legislation (see above) Orders in Chancery (1868)

Holmested, George. A Manual of Practice of the High Court of Justice for Ontario (1881)

Agency not found in Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

Archivist(s):
R. Anger, T. Belton