Columbus was born in Genoa.[1]
His father was a Genoese also. He was named Domenico, or Dominic, Columbus, and was the son of John Columbus, who once resided at Quinto, where he appears to have enjoyed a certain degree of competency. The fact of the father of Christopher Columbus being a Genoese, cannot be disputed. It is proved by his own declarations, in many authentic acts, whose originals exist at this day, preserved in the archives of the notary's offices of Savone and Genoa.
Dominic was married to a native of the village of Bassagno, Susana, daughter of James Fantanarossa, who brought him a small fortune. He settled in Genoa, first in a house that was his own property; this house was situated outside the city walls, on the road to Bassagno, which was near it. Dominic Columbus possessed, also, a patrimony in the valley of Nura, and some lots of land in the neighborhood of Quinto. Nevertheless, in order to make up for the slenderness of his income, he carried on the business of wool-combing. He had a place for weaving cloths, in which he employed a workman and an apprentice.
It was in this house, in the suburbs of the city, that Christopher Columbus was born. He was presented to the baptismal font in the ancient church of St. Stephen, then situated on a little hill, and served by Benedictine priests. This church is commonly called St. Stephen di Arco. The popular tradition which has for the last three hundred years designated it as the church in which Columbus was baptized, has, in our days, been fully confirmed.
The family name of Columbus is Italian — Colombo; in Latin it was written Columbus; later, in Spanish, Colon; but we follow the Latin orthography, and write it Columbus.
Some years after, Dominic Columbus having already
- ↑ De Lorgues proves this beyond the shadow of a doubt; but his discussion and proofs of the matter are too long for our pages. — B.
