Catharine Littlefield was born on February 17, 1755, off the coast of Washington County, Rhode Island, on Block Island, where her family had settled in the 1660s. She was born into an upper class family and had a dad by the name of John Littlefield who was a part of the Rhode Island legislature. After Catherine's mom died when she was 10 years old, she was sent to live with her aunt and uncle who were a part of the local government and acquainted her with its inner workings. While living with her aunt and uncle she received a formal education and lessons of domesticity.