Kerry, this is not a reply to your main query ''if he was dismissed as a Weapons master's mate, how did he become governor of Madras?'' I just want to point out that Sadras and Madras are two separate places. Quite close to each other but not one and the same. Madras was a British presidency and so could not have a Dutch governor in 1823. Sir Thomas Munro was the governor of Madras from 1814 to 1827. On the other hand, the nearby Sadras or Sadurangapattinam remained in Dutch hands and they had built a fort there. Your man is therefore a Sadrasi and not a Madrasi ... See = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadras http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3527885.ece http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/tryst-with-the-coromandel-coast-%E2%80%93-part-1.html I hope some of our experts would be able to guide you further. Best, ---- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kerry Edwards" Help with Dutch records I am trying to confirm/locate details of a Francis Casparus Regel B about 1776 died 27 November 1823 Sadras (Madras) India. He is shown as the Dutch Governor of Madras 1818 - 1824 . The record shows he was 'dismissed' hardly 6 months after he was employed (and 2-3 mnths of that was the sea voyage). The question that come to mind is that if he was dismissed as a Weapons master's mate, how did he become governor of Madras? Can anyone provide any guidance to search Dutch Govt Records on his appointment as Govenor of Madras?