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Everything was handed to her, but then it all got taken away. After marrying prominent general Nathanael Greene, and giving birth to his five children, Catharine Littlefield Greene thought her life was perfect. But after a few money mishaps, it all went downhill. She lost absolutely everything but her five children. But after giving birth to an idea for an invention, the cotton gin was born, and also finally Catharine’s new start.

On February, 17, 1753 John Littlefield and Phebe Ray were truly blessed with their eldest daughter Catharine Littlefield, also known as, “Caty”. But soon after, Catharine’s mother passed away and she came into the care of her kind aunt, Catharine Ray, the wife of William Greene, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.. Caty spent her childhood and teenage years there, learning her academics, such as reading and writing. A frequent caller at the Greene residence was Nathanael Greene, a cordial, good looking, Quaker merchant. Nathanael’s age surpassed Catharine’s by fourteen years, but in 1772 they began their courtship, and were married by on July 20, 1774. Sadly, within a few years of their marriage, the of the Revolutionary War began. Nathanael was commissioned to be a brigadier general, presiding over Rhode Island's three Continental regiments. It was an honorable step , albeit one that limit his one on one time with Catharine immensely. Unlike many of the other wives of the soldiers and generals, Catharine was not delighted to simply sit at home waiting for her husband to come back to her. So, she went along with general Nathanael Greene to various encampments, improving the men’s spirits and overall moral in the camps. Although many circles of her family and friends disapproved of her conduct, Catharine c...

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...f the island. They all lived their happily until 1803, when Phineas Miller passed away. Catharine stayed at Cumberland Island until 1814, when she passed away herself. She is still buried there to this day.

Catharine Littlefield was a brave, intelligent woman who overcame several obstacles, and still came out the winner. She showed love and compassion to the soldiers at the encampment during the Revolutionary War. She was an amazing and loyal wife to general Nathanael Greene, and Phineas Miller. She was a wonderful mother to her five children: George, Martha, Cornelia, Nathanael, and Louisa. She watched over Eli Whitney and helped him with the cotton gin. But most of all she was a fighter. She tried her hardest make Mulberry Grove a thriving, profitable plantation, and even though that never came to be, she never stopped trying to accomplish exactly what she wanted.