'Live free or die'; words of Gen. John Stark echo through history

'Live free or die'; words of Gen. John Stark echo through history His words have echoed through history to become the official state motto of New Hampshire, and as America celebrates 250 years of independence, the story of Gen. John Stark is one that embodies the country's spirit. If you're from New Hampshire, you know the words, "Live free or die." You probably know them even if you're not from the Granite State. The motto was made famous by Stark. "John Stark had been a war hero," said Mary Adams of the New Hampshire Historical Society. "He was deeply loved by the men who served under him, and every year, he was invited to these reunions for war soldiers. In 1809, he was too sick to go to the reunion in Bennington, so he sat down at his desk in Manchester. He wrote out a letter and closed it with a toast." >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go << That toast was, "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." The toast would inspire New Hampshire's state motto about 136 years later. "I've lived in different states and in different towns, and it always comes back to being free here to do what you love, but also having community around you," said Laura Collins of Manchester. Stark didn't just have a way with words. He was a Revolutionary War hero, New Hampshire's very own. He served through the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. His greatest feat may have been defending New Hampshire and Vermont from British forces in the Battle of Bennington, part of an effort that turned the tide of the war and U.S. history. "He should be credited, really, for all of this thinking and his plan of attack, his actions," Adams said. "He thought in ways that other officers in the Continental Army did not think." Stark's journey and words transcend generations and are known across the country. "I think he's relevant because he was a citizen soldier," Adams said. "He truly was a farmer. He ran his own sawmills. He wasn't in the role of a soldier because he wanted this lifelong ambition to be great. He did what he believed to be right and fair and just." His words might mean the most to those from the "Live Free or Die" state. "I think it resonates with everyone wanting to live their own way, their own lifestyle," Collins said. "But I do feel that New Hampshire is very united in the same respect." Stark was born in Londonderry. When he was 8, he moved to Derryfield, which would come to be known as Manchester.