He was the only son and heir of Lionel Tollemache (1545 – 11 Dec 1575) of Helmingham, and Susanna, daughter of Sir Ambrose Jermyn of Rushbrooke in Suffolk.

He died in 1612 and was buried at Helmingham, "his effigy, in richly gilt armour, being placed by itself on the great tomb in the church there".

[5] Above the kneeling figure of Sir Lionel are the Tollemache arms, with the arms of Cromwell, and beneath the lines:Here with his Fathers sleeps Sr LyonellKnight Barronet all Honors worthy wellSo well ye acts of all his life exprestHis elders vertues and excel'd their besteHis prudent bearing in his publique placeSuff.

high Shireve twice in 16 yeeres space.His Zeale to God and towards ill seventieHis temperance his Justice his sinceritieHis native mildnesse towards great and smallHis Faith and Love to Frends wife children allIn life and death made him belov'd and deere To God and men.

Happy in heaven and heere.Happy in soule in body goods and nameHappy in wedlock with a noble DameLord Cromwells Daughter happie in his heireWhose spring of vertues sprouts so yong, so faireWhos deere affection to his Founders' debtorBuilt them this toomb, but in his hart a better.His widow, who outlived him by eight years, died on 24 March 1621 and was buried at Helmingham, where there is a marble tablet over the chancel door of the church erected to her memory.