Member of the Tennessee House: 13th General Assembly, 2nd session only, 1819-21; replaced William Kelley; 14th General Assembly, 2nd session only, 1821-23, replaced Valentine Sevier; 15th and 16th General assemblies, 1823-27; representing Greene County in all sessions; SENATE, 22nd and 23rd General Assemblies, 1837-41; representing Greene and Hawkins counties; Democrat. Born in November 1760 at Deer Creek, Baltimore County, Maryland; son of the Rev. Hezekiah and Hannah (Lewis) Balch. Said to have been well educated; also described as “rough, wild, dissipated, cared neither for God or man.” Served in the American Revolution and lived for a time thereafter in North Carolina; probably removed to Tennessee at the same time as did his father, in 1785. Married to Barbara Patton’ children — Ann, Rachel (Mrs. William Motes), Betsy, Catherine, James Patton, Barbara T., and John Tenant Balch, Jr. Died on May 27, 1849, near Dandridge, Jefferson County.

Sources: D.A.R. Lineage Book, 87, p.45; D.A.R. Rosters and Soldiers, 224. Balch, Balch Genealogy, 375, 377,383,402-403. Temple, Notable Men of Tennessee, 369-71. Acklen, Tombstone Inscriptions and Manuscripts, 132.

Transcribed by Mildred Collins from published biographies of Tennessee Legislators, compiled and printed by the TN State Library & Archives.