William was a textile worker who came from Ashton Under Lyne, England where his father was a ginger beer manufacturer. It's possible the families where acquainted in England.
Prof. (1899): Spinner in Taftville.
Naturalization Record Court of Common Pleas, Norwich CO
Vol 3, Page 420.
Age: 21
Date: June 3, 1898
Name: William H Pickering
Age in 1910: 33
Estimated birth year: abt 1877
Birthplace: England
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: England
Mother's Birth Place: England
Spouse's name: Emily Pickering
Home in 1910: New Bedford Ward 2, Bristol, Massachusetts
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1893
Occupation: Spinner at Mill
Name: William H Pickering
Home in 1920: New Bedford Ward 2, Bristol, Massachusetts
Age: 42
Estimated birth year: abt 1878
Birthplace: England
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Emily Pickering
Father's Birth Place: England
Mother's Birth Place: England
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of Immigration: 1893 (Naturalized 1898)
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Occupation: Mule Spinner at Cotton Mill
Doris works at Glass Works
Lillian works at Blanket Mill
Name: William H Pickering
Home in 1930: New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts Age: 53
Estimated birth year: abt 1877
Birthplace: England
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's name: Emily Pickering
Race: White
Occupation: Mull Spinner at Cotton Milll Rent/home value: R $20.00 per month Age at first marriage: 22 Parents' birthplace: England
Doris and Lillian are not living with their parents anymore in 1930.