Captain James Nason (1821-1849), by an unknown artist, circa 1845.
Oil on canvas, 36” x 31” framed. Brick Store Museum Collection, 2009.098.0001.
Gift of Stephanie Kruse, Theodore H. Kruse, Helen K. Larkin, and Margaret K. Wallenberger,
Family of Victor Nason Kruse as Heirs, 2009.

Captain James Nason (1821-1849) was married to Susan S. Gile (1823-1898) and had a son named James Henry Nason. Captain Nason was the principal owner and master of the Ship Equity, a 493-ton vessel built in Kennebunk, Maine, by Jacob Perkins in 1847. Captain Nason died in New Orleans of cholera on May 6, 1849. Captain Nason’s marker is in the Nason family plot in Kennebunk’s Hope Cemetery. After her husband’s death, Susan remarried to James’ brother, William Bracy Nason (1823-1909). Among their children was Mary “May” Nason Lord (1864-1954), and it is believed that this painting of James Nason long hung over May’s fireplace at 37 Summer Street in Kennebunk. The painting was eventually donated to the Brick Store Museum by Nason descendants in 2009.

In researching Captain Nason, museum staff discovered a fascinating parallel with Captain Francis Watts Chadbourne (1815-1849), another Kennebunk personage represented in the Museum's portrait collection. Captain Chadbourne was master of the Kennebunk ship Susan Lord. Captain Chadbourne, too, died of cholera in New Orleans in 1849...just two days after Captain Nason. It is interesting to speculate whether the two Kennebunk captains may have seen each other while in port.

Cholera is acute, infectious gastroenteritis transmitted by ingesting food or water contaminated with the cholera bacteria. If untreated, cholera can be fatal within just hours of infection. Cholera pandemics have been well-documented throughout history. In 1849, cholera claimed over 5,000 lives in the port city of Liverpool, England--a common destination for vessels departing New Orleans--and cholera killed more than 3,000 people in New Orleans that same year.

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