I can't answer in relation to savant syndrome in general, but in relation to historical cases of autism, this BBC documentary touches upon the subject (relevant section at 41:50).

In summary there have been a few historical accounts of individuals who have exhibited symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder - one of the most interesting, and possibly relevant to your question, being Isaac Newton. But Autism is hard enough to diagnose even in someone who is still alive, so it's impossible to know for sure the true nature of these individuals' behaviour.