1851 Census Occupation Help - Drugsoil Labourer

[Horsley2016]

Hello there,

I've stumbled across this entry, based in Liverpool 1851. Listed as a 'Labourer in a Drugsoil Established'  Having tried to Google this, I can only find some basic information that some substances were extracted from soil including antibiotics and penicillin.

I'd love to find out more about what that actually looked like in Liverpool 1851. Could this have been something as simple as working for a Pharmacist or being involved in something bigger?

Any thoughts, gratefully welcomed.
Mx

[CaroleW]

Can you give details of the entry so we can have a look?  Name/birthyear etc

[Horsley2016]

Can you give details of the entry so we can have a look?  Name/birthyear etc

Thanks Carole, of course.

Its 1851, Liverpool, address is 1 Kermode Street and the person is Thomas Hall, aged 62 (1789)

[Horsley2016]

***just amended the date - it's 1851 Census (not 1841) **

[Tickettyboo]

Piece 2189 / Folio 264/ page 24

I see it as ' * - unsure about that first word'  & oil establish[ment], rather than soil

There is an Oil Merchant a couple of lines above him, but that may just be co-incidence

I'd suggest you ask a moderator to move this to the handwriting board and then post a snippet showing the occupation as written for opinions on what it says (also give the census ref as above so people can, if they wish, see the whole page to compare the writing)

Boo

[hanes teulu]

Agreed.
Does it read "Drugs & oil" rather than "Drugsoil". The head of household in the previous entry is an "Oil merchant"

[Horsley2016]

Thank you.

I think I'm fairly sure that first word is 'Drug' - just comparing the other 'D's' and 'r's' across the page (particularly in Margaret the Grandaughter 2 lines down.) Not so sure about the second half but I first read it as 'drugsoil' and then doubted myself (!) but then I googled 'Drugsoil' and found it to be a 'thing!'

Thank you for all your eyes on it!
Mx

[JenB]

I too think it’s ‘….drugs & oil….’

There’s a very similar a person on the very next page (Hannah Waite).