Hello Listers, I'm writing from Bristol, South West England. Trying to find out anything about my gg Grandfather Pierre Louis Merceron. His life has been a mystery to us until recently - I have recently found testimonials to his work as a chiropodist in New Orleans 1875/1876 and also St Louis. He seems to have invented a cure-all at the time as the following appears in his testimonial. dated 3rd Aug 1875 New Orleans - " we the undersigned, do hereby certify that Dr Merceron is the inventor of a pomade for the immediate cure of pains occasioned by any inflamation of the feet, resulting either from the friction of the shoes thereon or from extra walking: will cure especially Bunions, soft & hard corns, and nails growing in the flesh. He performed a dextrous operation by himself that was by ten or more surgeons adjudged to be pulled off under the influence of chloroform. We do therefore, all of us undersigned that have tested his ability to operations of nails &c, very cheerfully recommend to the community Dr Merceron as one of the most skilful and successful operators ever known to us to this day. JOHN CHRISTIAN DECAUTIN 24 Sant Lovee St HENRY JOHNSON 75 Poydra St HENRY DELERY 81 Magazine St JOHN BAKER 56 Royal St CHAS. VIGNER 302 Charters St LAWRENCE 257 Old Lovee St T.W. DAVICE 127 Decature St P A GINGNARE 126 Washington Ave There are also testimonies from- HENRY PAIGER Jan 19th 1876 S.ROTHSCHILD,Schwabacher Frowgafeld Pfeifer, 5th feb 1876 A. SOCOLA 20th April 1876 My questions are - How could I find out how long or where he practised in New Orleans -how big was the population then?. Were the men testifying for him important in the town or not ? Is there a trade directory for the city which would have adverts for this kind of thing at the time? He was originally from La Rochelle in South West France but returned instead to England after being in America. Where, we assume, he met his wife Harriet Dancey. If anyone has any info or connection, or can tell me where to search - I'd be really grateful. If you're connected to any of the testifiers you'll at least know they suffered with their feet! Many thanks Paul Wick Southville, Bristol UK