Samuel Watters was born in 1775 in New Jersey. He was the son of William and Mary Ann (Radford) Watters. Samuel moved with his parents to Oglethorpe County in the later part of the eighteenth century. When his father died in 1797, Samuel was on his on land in Georgia, separate from his mother. He witnessed a deed in Georgia on February 20, 1797 for Alexander Read, who sold one acre on Big Creek to Joseph Espeth.
In 1800, he was living with his mother as head of household and three years later, on 21 February 1803, he married Mary Ann Radford, the daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth (Hackworth) Radford. Samuel and Elizabeth had six children while they were living in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. When his two brothers died in Georgia, Samuel sold his land and moved with Mary Ann, his family, his mother and Mary Ann’s family as they migrated to Perry County, Alabama.
Samuel and Mary Ann’s first child to be born in Alabama was James Madison, born on 13 March
1819. By 1830, their sons, William and Reuben, were living on their own and in 1840, Samuel is again recorded in the census of Perry County, Alabama. James Madison married on 9 January 1840 and moved on his own.
Samuel Watters passed away on September 7, 1848 and is buried in the Stone Family Cemetery in Perry County, Alabama. After the death of her husband, Mary Ann continued to live in her house in
Radfordville, Perry County, Alabama. In the 1850 census, she was 69 years old and fairly well off, holding 2,200 in real estate. Her mother Elizabeth Radford, born 1756, was living with her as well. Mary Ann’s mother passed away in 1859. In the 1870 census, Mary Anna is listed as 79 years old and employing a twenty year old man as an overseer. She held 3,500 dollars in real estate. Her son Joseph Radford Watters was living next door with his family and her brother William Radford lived a few houses away. She died 1878 and is buried in the Stone Family Cemetery in Radfordville.
