Hi Jackie
In view of your other topic about bumping, I have responded here with an update.
Firstly, I have amended your topic title to show what you are actually looking for, many people ignore topics if they can't go somewhere themselves despite possibly having access to other sources such as microfilm, family history society transcriptions and other locations.
Secondly, knowing that the Staffordshire records are now online, I wondered why it was not possible to locate this entry there.
It would seem that the church still has it's original registers dating back to 1570, they have not been deposited for safe-keeping although various microfilms and transcriptions are available.
There are 2 items of interest I found on the internet
From Genuki in relation to the church records
Church of England Registers
The parish register of the parish church of St Matthew commences in 1570. The original registers remain with the incumbent. A microfilm copy of the register for the period 1646-1965 (Bapts), 1663-1982 (Mar) & 1662-1678 & 1737-1985 (Bur) is held at Walsall Local History Centre and Staffordshire Record Office.
Bishops Transcripts, 1673-1858 (with gaps 1765-6 (Mar), 1831-35, & 1848-58 (Mar)) are deposited at Lichfield Record Office.
A transcript of the St Matthew registers for the period 1570-1649 by FW Willmore was published in 1890.
A transcript of the St Matthew registers for the periods (part 1) 1679-1837 (Bapts), and (part 2) 1662-1842 (Bur) & 1756-1812 (Burial Ground) has been published by the Birmingham & Midland SGH in two parts.
and a link to the church itself with contact details
http://www.stmatthews-walsall.org.uk/info/maingenealogy.shtmlHope this helps
Dawn
