12. Columbus in Savona

A Document of Indebtedness

Christopher Columbus, with his father's leave and of his own accord, takes on the debt previously incurred by his father. This document, like a former one dated July 9, 1472, and subsequent ones, states that Domenico Columbus moved to Savona with his son Christopher, probably owing to the miserable vicissitudes of Pietro Fregoso's party, which he was supporting in Genoa. Christopher Columbus thus spends long periods of his youth in Savona, during the pauses between his travels along the coasts of Liguria and to Corsica.

Translation:
...Domenico Columbus, weaver, living in Savona, and his son Christopher, with his father's consent...spontaneously declare to Giovanni de Signorio, present...to be obliged to give him one hundred forty (lire) of Genoese currency; and they are the price of seven canthari of wool of Sorlini and Biolante... costing twenty Genoese lire per cantharus... They promised to pay in six months, by giving him good pieces of blcnchettis (a quality of cloth) costing from sixteen to twenty Genoese lires each; and in the case that the said Christopher and Domenico do not pay the debt in the said term by giving the said cloth to the said Giovanni, they will be obliged to pay the debt in currency, in the term of a year...