Samuel William Winter was born on February 20, 1847 to Samuel Winter and his wife, Martha (Anstey) Winter, and was their first child. At that time the family lived on Cross Street, Chatham, Kent County, England. His birth was registered in the Medway Registration District in March 1847.

He is listed on the March 30, 1851 UK Census along with his parents and 2 lodgers, living at 1 Woolmore Street, Poplar, Middlesex County, England. He is again listed on the April 7, 1861 UK Census with his parents and 2 younger siblings, Martha and Charles, living at 4 Gloster Terrace, Bromley, Bow Sub-District, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex County, England. Sometime in 1861 he started working for Blackwall Yard, where he worked until September 1870 (the first time).

He married Emily Eliza Brown on September 16, 1867 in the Parish Church of Bromley St Leonard, Poplar, Middlesex County, England, and was listed as a Shipwright at that time. The April 2, 1871 UK Census found him listed as Samuel W Winter (24), Shipwright, with his wife Emily E Winter (23) and 2 children, Miriam (2) and Luke (0), all living with Emily's father Robert Brown at 114 Grundy Street, Poplar Township, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex County, England. Sometime in 1872 he returned to working at Blackwall Yard, where he worked until August of 1887.

The April 3, 1881 UK Census found Samuel W Winter (34), listed as a Shipwright and Caulker, living at 30 Wilson Street, Bromley, Middlesex County, England with his wife Emily E Winter (33) and 5 children. They were: Miriam J Winter (12), Luke H Winter (10), Samuel W Winter (5), Charles H Winter (2) & Frederick A Winter (5 mo.).

On August 8, 1887 he was given a letter of reference from Blackwall Yard E and immigrated to the United States later that year. (See Photo section for image of that letter.)

By the June 8, 1900 US Census he was living at 48 Hartnell Street, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio along with Emily and children Henry, Emily, Rose & Florence, as well as Henry's daughter Beatrice. His occupation was listed as Ship-fitter. On the April 18, 1910 US Census he was living at 1331 West 75 Street, Cleveland, Ohio with Emily, daughter Florence, daughter Marian (who had married John Woodhams and was already a widow), and grandson Nelson Winter (Fred's son). Samuel died on November 23, 1910 and was buried in Cleveland's Alger Cemetery.

Samuel and Emily had a total of 11 children. In addition to the 9 linked below, they also had:
Robert Arthur Winter, born May 30, 1874 in the Poplar Registration District, Middlesex County, England (died as an infant in early 1875); and Samuel William Winter, born about 1875 in Bromley, Bow Sub-District, Poplar Registration District, Middlesex County, England (listed as 5 years old on April 3, 1881 UK Census).