Lot
848 
Salt Lake City U.T., July 1 (Utah Terr.). Strong clear strike of straight line postmark on 1851 folded cover to Ohio with matching "X" rate handstamp, lengthy spiritual letter written by Robert Burton telling of the death of his brother William Burton, edge wear & splits with some archival tape on inside, Very Fine strike, the earliest reported handstamp postmark of Utah. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Robert Taylor Burton (October 25, 1821 ? November 11, 1907) was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1874 until his death. He was also one of the principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution (including the Utah War) and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War.
In 1856, Burton was part of the rescue party sent from Salt Lake City to assist the stranded Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River. In 1870, Burton was tried and acquitted for the murder of Isabella Bowman, a person who had been killed by Utah militia while surrendering in the Morrisite War.
Burton practiced plural marriage and fathered 27 children. He is the great-great-grandfather of the current presiding bishop of the LDS Church, H. David Burton.
Realized: $1,250