What does "wortle" mean?

[Gadget]

Going back to the original transcription, which relates to the summary of the overseer of the poor in one of the Norfolk parishes. Could it be a mistake in  transcription of the name of a parish?

 I see that there was a parish named Wortwell which seems a possible error in transcription or even written as it was possibly pronounced as 'Wortle' in the local dialect.  This parish became part of the Depwade Union after the 1834 Poor Law act.

Thus, a Wortwell/wortle girl .

Gadget


.

[arthurk]

I see that there was a parish named Wortwell which seems a possible error in transcription or even written as it was possibly pronounced as 'Wortle' in the local dialect.

That's a good idea 

[Gadget]

It might even refer to Mr Smith who lived there



Added - Searches suggest it is pronounced Wottel in local dialect - so not far out. I'll see if I can trace the original entry

[hepburn]

OCR = optical character recognition

>>>>>>>>>>>

"I think Drosybont might be on track with the "whortle berry picking" in reply #5."

But you'd think that berry pickers would be paid by the bucket not by the week.

Thanks Erato for the explanation

[Gadget]

I studied the history of the Poor law as part of an A level course in my teens! but I've forgotten a lot of it.

This, from Wiki, mentions the state of Poor Law in the 1790s:

In 1782, Thomas Gilbert finally succeeded in passing the Relief of the Poor Act[53] that established poor houses solely for the aged and infirm and introduced a system of outdoor relief for the able-bodied. This was the basis for the development of the Speenhamland system, which made financial provision for low-paid workers.

Add https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Poor_Laws

[hepburn]

Could she have been named wortley and spelled wrong?

[Gadget]

I don't think so.

Ir says Mr Smith Wortle .............. The Poor Law* at the time provided for a top up to employ the 'able bodied' to work. It could be that Mr Smith of Wortle (Variations) was given 1s as a top up to employi her.

The original entry needs to be obtained.

* See my previous post re Poor Law

Just found this

https://nrocatalogue.norfolk.gov.uk/index.php/parish-records-of-redenhall-with-harleston-and-wortwell

Maybe someone in Norwich might oblige.