Three hundred years have passed since the actual rebellions but the failed Jacobite uprisings of 1689, 1715 and 1745 still cast a shadow on a number of Scottish families, a stain that many of them are now keen to eradicate once and for all.
A series of Acts of Parliament in the wake of the Jacobite rebellions in the 17th and 18th centuries "attainted" a large number of Stuart-supporting families.
The legislation formally stripped them of their titles, it disinherited their descendants and – most importantly for those coming after them – their families were declared as having ‘corrupted blood’ in perpetuity.
It is this smear on their family lineage that their modern-day successors want to get rid of.
Those who were punished in this way included cattle thief and fabled Scottish hero Rob Roy McGregor and Flora Macdonald, who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape capture in the wake of Culloden in 1746.
Some have since managed have individual attainders wiped from the record but others – as many as 30 families - are still waiting, both for a pardon and to have their titles restored.
To start the process of restoring reputation, title and a good bloodline, a motion has been tabled in the Scottish Parliament by Tory MSP Jamie McGrigor.
It calls for the repeal of all “forfeitures and attainders” still in existence.
Mr McGrigor told the Times he believes the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next year would provide the perfect opportunity to end the sense of injustice felt by those still tainted by the punishment handed down to their ancestors.
He said: “It is really ridiculous that there are families around – and these weren’t just nobles and lords affected by this, but clerks and so on as well – who have to carry the stigma of having a corruption of blood, of having ‘bad blood’.
“There was this idea that because somebody had been treasonous, then their descendants carried that bad blood too. I really think it’s time we got rid of it.”
And Mr McGrigor added: “At this time when everybody is saying sorry to everybody else, this is still going on in the background.”
It would take an Act of Parliament at Westminster to wipe all the attainders from the record but Mr McGrigor hopes that, by raising the issue in the Scottish Parliament, he can spark a similar effort in the Commons.
George IV did make an attempt to wipe out the attainders from the record but he only did so for those who were able to bring forward their own, private acts of parliament and this restricted the number of successful applicants to a handful.
Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick, a former banker and heraldry expert, is from a strong Jacobite family which was attainted and, as such, is still condemned officially with “corrupted blood”.
He told The Times that probably half a dozen or so families which would regain former titles if the law was changed but the change, although important, was largely symbolic for many, many more who were tagged with corrupted blood.
“Those who do get their titles back are not going to be allowed to sit in the House of Lords or anything like that,” he said.
And he added: “There is not going to be a change of dynasty for the monarchy but it is right that this is done because it would remove a dishonour.”
Among those who could have their titles reinstated are the earls of Panmure, Southesk and Kellie as well as the Duke of Berwick.
Mr Drummond-Murray argued that the change could be done quickly and easily, without using up too much parliamentary time.
“They nod things through in the Commons nowadays, particularly when there’s no opposition and there shouldn’t be to this,” he said.
And he added: “(David) Cameron comes from a Scottish family so one would assume he would be sympathetic.”
Mr Drummond-Murray said he was delighted Mr McGrigor had taken up the cause as the Conservative MSP came from a “particularly troublesome Jacobite family” and had been supportive of this cause for some time.
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