 Captain John Smith of Jamestown fame had explored the area in 1614 and is credited with naming the region of New England . He named many locations using approximations of Native American words . The future site of the Pilgrim 's first settlement was originally named " Accomack " by Smith . In consultation with Prince Charles , son of King James , Smith changed " Accomack " to New Plymouth . A map published in his 1616 work A Description of New England clearly shows the site of the future Pilgrim settlement named " New Plimouth . " 
