Samuel Watts ranked among the most prominent builder-owners of American merchant vessels during the last half of the 19th century. The story of vessels built at Thomaston, Maine during this period is to a great degree the story of Samuel Watts.

Watts commenced going to sea when he was 19, shipping as cook in the brig PENSACOLA. Six years later he became master of the new brig HECTOR, which was soon after lost at Gay Head.

After sailing the brig ANN MARIAH for J.H. Counce, Edward O. Brien employed Samuel Watts to command a series of seven brigs and barks. Watts next took charge of the ship JAMES NESMITH, then the FRANKLIN KING, and finally the ship WESTERN EMPIRE, a command which marked the end of his seafaring career.

In company with Edward O. Brien, Watts built the ships S. CURLING and VESPER. After this he began his own business, building vessels under the name of Watts & Co. From there on Samuel Watts was recognized as a sound businessman, a respected builder, and a managing owner of square-riggers and large schooners.

Associated with Samuel was his brother, Capt. Alfred Watts (1816-1882), who had been master of the ships BARNABUS WEBB and GENERAL MCCLELLAN, and who retired from the sea to manage the Watts shipyard. The Watts brothers continued to build large ships and schooners for nearly 30 years.

Vessels built and/or managed by Samuel Watts were found in all the major sea lanes of the world. Boston, New York, San Francisco, Liverpool, New Orleans, Antwerp, and numerous other ports around the globe were frequented by the Watts fleet. By the time he retired in 1887, Samuel Watts had launched 24 ships, 1 bark, and 17 schooners and he had been the managing owner of 6 other vessels.

Samuel Watts died on March 7, 1900, at the age of 87.