The history of a Strethall family - the Pledgers. The book begins in the mid-1500s in Thaxted and tells the intriguing stories of many people who have born the Pledger name. The book is the fruit of six years' research and writing by 58-year-old Megan Ridgewell, who has been in touch with hundreds of individuals to help learn the history of her maiden name, Pledger. Grandmother-of-five Megan made extensive use of Saffron Walden's archives to carry out her early research, as well as meeting people connected to the Pledger name from all over the country and even as far afield as Australia.