Lionel Tollemache, 4th Earl Of Dysart

Lionel Tollemache, 4th Earl of Dysart, was born on May 1, 1708. He was styled Lord Huntingtower from 1712 until 1727. His father was a namesake who predeceased his own father, Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Earl of Dysart, in 1712. Upon the death of the 3rd Earl in 1727, Lionel Tollemache inherited the earldom and became the owner of several estates, including Ham House in Surrey, Helmingham Hall in Suffolk, Harrington and Bentley in Northamptonshire, and approximately 20,000 acres in Cheshire.

In 1728, he undertook a Grand Tour, a customary extended journey through Europe undertaken by young aristocrats of the period. In 1729, he was elected High Steward of Ipswich, a position he held for 41 years.

In that year, 1729, Lionel Tollemache married Lady Grace Carteret, who was born in 1713 and died in 1755. Lady Grace was the daughter of John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville. Together, they had sixteen children, although nine did not survive past the age of 17. Among their children:

- Lionel Tollemache, Lord Huntingtower (born and died on May 21, 1730)

- Lionel Tollemache, Lord Huntingtower (born March 15, 1731, died March 16, 1731)

- Lady Grace Tollemache (born April 9, 1732, died May 10, 1736)

- Lady Harriet Tollemache (died August 2, 1733)

- Lionel Tollemache, who became the 5th Earl of Dysart (born August 6, 1734, died February 20, 1799)

- Lady Mary Tollemache (born March 12, 1736, died March 14, 1736)

- A son born June 24, 1737, who died young

- Lady Frances Tollemache (circa 1738 – December 18, 1807)

- Wilbraham Tollemache, who became the 6th Earl of Dysart (born October 21, 1739, died March 9, 1821)

- Lady Catherine Tollemache (born October 6, 1740, died May 24, 1751)

- A son who died young

- Hon. George Tollemache (born March 14, 1744, died November 13, 1760), who joined the Royal Navy and drowned after falling from HMS Modeste during a voyage to Lisbon

- Louisa Tollemache, who became the 7th Countess of Dysart (born July 2, 1745, died 1840), married John Manners in 1766

- Captain Hon. John Tollemache (born October 3, 1748, died September 25, 1777), married Lady Bridget Henley; he was killed in a duel in New York City with Lt-Col. Pennington

- Their son, Lionel Robert Tollemache (born November 10, 1774, died July 14, 1793), was informally adopted by his uncle following his father's death and was killed at the siege of Valenciennes

- Lady Jane Tollemache (born March 26, 1750, died August 28, 1802), married John Delap Halliday in 1771 and had children

- Lt. Hon. William Tollemache (born March 22, 1751, died December 16, 1776), was a lieutenant aboard HMS Repulse and was lost in a hurricane off Bermuda

- Lady Grace Tollemache married John Manners

- The family also included other children whose details are documented in genealogical records.

Lionel Tollemache was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1743. His wife, Lady Grace, died at their residence in New Burlington Street, St James's.

Lionel Tollemache, 4th Earl of Dysart, died on March 10, 1770, aged 72. He was buried in Helmingham. His eldest son, Lionel, succeeded him but left no legitimate children and erected no memorials to his parents. The title passed to his next surviving son, Wilbraham, who became the 6th Earl of Dysart, and later to a daughter, Lady Jane Tollemache, who inherited the title after her brothers. The funerary hatchments of the 4th Earl and his wife are located in St Andrew's Church, Ham.