Catharine Littlefield was born into a prominent and wealthy family on Block Island, Rhode Island. Her father, John Littlefield, was a successful merchant and landowner. This upbringing provided her with a strong education, social connections, and a familiarity with managing household affairs and finances – skills that would prove invaluable later in life.

At the age of 17, Catharine Littlefield married Nathanael Greene, a man 13 years her senior. Greene, a Quaker from Rhode Island, would soon become a pivotal figure in the burgeoning American Revolution. This marriage propelled Catharine into a world of political discourse and military strategy, shaping her future experiences and perspectives.

During the American Revolutionary War, Caty defied societal norms by frequently traveling to be with her husband at Continental Army encampments. She provided him with emotional support and acted as a hostess, entertaining officers and dignitaries, gathering intelligence, and improving morale. Her presence brought a touch of refinement and connection to the outside world for soldiers often enduring harsh conditions.

During the particularly harsh winter at Morristown, New Jersey, Caty bravely endured the severe conditions alongside her husband and the Continental Army. She dedicated herself to boosting the morale of the soldiers, organizing social events and providing comforts whenever possible. This experience showcased her resilience and dedication to the American cause.

Following the Revolutionary War, Nathanael Greene was awarded Mulberry Grove Plantation near Savannah, Georgia, in recognition of his military service. Caty, along with her family, moved to the plantation, attempting to establish a new life as a planter. This transition was challenging, filled with the difficulties of managing a large estate and navigating the complexities of the Southern plantation economy.

Nathanael Greene died suddenly at Mulberry Grove Plantation. This left Caty a widow with several young children and a financially unstable plantation to manage. Despite her grief and the immense challenges she faced, she demonstrated remarkable strength and determination in preserving her family's future.

While managing Mulberry Grove Plantation, Caty Greene played a pivotal role in the early development of the cotton gin. Eli Whitney, a young tutor on the plantation, was struggling to find employment. Seeing the labor-intensive process of separating cotton seeds from fibers, Caty suggested he develop a machine to automate the process. Though the exact extent of her involvement is debated, she provided him with resources and support, ultimately contributing to an invention that revolutionized the cotton industry (for better or for worse).

Caty married Phineas Miller, the former plantation manager and close friend of her late husband, Nathanael Greene. Miller brought business acumen and stability to Mulberry Grove, helping to manage the plantation and address its financial challenges. However, their marriage was met with some societal disapproval due to the existing social norms of the time.

Catharine Littlefield Greene Miller died at Dungeness, the Greene family plantation on Cumberland Island, Georgia. She was a woman who navigated the turbulent years of the American Revolution with grace, intelligence, and resilience. While often remembered as the wife of General Greene, her own contributions to the social and economic landscape of her time, particularly her role in the development of the cotton gin, deserve recognition. She represented a new breed of American woman: independent, capable, and deeply engaged in shaping the destiny of the young nation.