Following is an old note from Watkins records: According to "Watkins Family" page 510, "He (Watkins) was a planter of large means, and in studying the application of mechanics, more for pleasure than for profit, discovered, and made, the first GIN for upland cotton and had it in successful operation while Eli whitney, at the house of Mrs. Gen. Nathaniel Greene, in savannah, GA,-puzzled and thwarted-was working at a similar model. Upon hearing of Mr. Watkins' invention, he did the wise thing in going to inspect it in person. He was courtesouly received, in the old-time Southern style, and shown by the amiable host over the whole plantation, and all its attractive features and improvements delightedly exhibited, and he found the new gin corresponded with his own conception, with the additional idea that one cylinder, studded at right angles with parallel rows of wire teeth to tear the lint from the seed, and another cylinder provided with brushes to sweep it off, and revolving, not above, but on a horizontal plane, would great improve his original plan," et. This was in 1792, and he soon had a success. "But every one in GA regarded whitney merely as the IMPROVER and INTRODUCER of the cotton gin, and not the INVENTOR; and watkins was continually urged to bring counter-suits against whitney; but, as was said, he had studied the application of mechanics more for amusement than profit, and invariablly refused and allowed things to take their own course. Whitney was born in Massachusetts in 1765. He had been disappointed in gaining the position of private tutor in a private family, for which he had come south, and Mrs. Greene befriended him with the fortunate result to the world." "All that is here stated regarding Joseph Watkin can, upon demand, be thoroughly substantiated." (See article by Hugh N. Starnes, in the "Southern bivouac" for Dec,. 1885, on "The cotton gin, its Invention and Affect." Gen. Nathaniel Green/e’s widow later married the financial partner of Eli Whitney, Dr. Phineas Miller, who became a GA state senator. Whitney had tutored the Green/e children when the General was still alive, as best I can determine. At one time a prominent GA Watkins, brother to the presumed inventor of the cotton gin, considered litigation against the Whitney family, but the attorney’s wealthy brother probably stopped the suit because of the popularity of their deceased neighbor. The Watkins brother who was the attorney was also very notable and in GA annals is credited with having brought law to the Southern frontier. I have a Rachel Green/e b ca 1830 who married a John C. Hooker b ca 1810 MD/NC whose descendants married into my Watkins family in TN. I have studied ties between the Green/e and Watkins families for some time, trying to determine how/if they are connected in GA. If anyone has additional information about this study, I would greatly appreciate it. Please contact me directly for lengthy communication.