Fra Giovanni Antonio Carbonaro

Fra Giovanni Antonio Carbonaro ("alias" de Carbonariis) was an Augustinian Friar from Milan who sailed with John Cabot ("alias" Giovanni Caboto) during his 1498 expedition to North America, and may have even founded North America's oldest, and only medieval, church in Newfoundland.

The Alwyn Ruddock mystery

Alwyn Ruddock of the University of London was one of the world's foremost experts on John Cabot's expedition. But when she died in December 2005 all of her research was destroyed in line with the instructions in her will. No one can explain why she directed this to occur, but Dr Evan Jones, a senior lecturer in History at the University of Bristol uncovered letters and a book proposal that provide some framework for understanding the direction of her research.

Evan Jones stated: "It appears that Ruddock believed the Newfoundland church was named after San Giovanni a Carbonara..." But Ruddock's notes do not provide any sources to support this belief.

External links and sources

* Evan T. Jones, 'Alwyn Ruddock: ‘John Cabot and the Discovery of America’"'Historical Research" (OnlineEarly Articles). [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2281.2007.00422.x]
* Dr Evan Jones, staff page at the University of Bristol. [http://www.bris.ac.uk/history/contact/jones.html]
* Livescience.com article on North America's earliest church [http://www.livescience.com/history/070416_cabot_church.html]