All deeds, contracts and conveyances executed and acknowledged by private corporations, under and pursuant to section four of chapter twenty-two of the General Statutes of 1868, be and the same are hereby ratified and confirmed; and all instruments of writing executed and acknowledged under and pursuant to said section, now copied into the proper books of the office of the register of deeds of the several counties of this state, shall, upon the passage of this act, be deemed to impart to subsequent purchasers and encumbrancers, and all other persons, notice of all deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, conveyances, contracts, and other instruments of writing, so far as and to the extent that the same may be found recorded, copied, or noted in such books of records, notwithstanding any defect in the execution, acknowledgment, recording, or certificate of recording the same; and the record of such instrument, or a duly authenticated copy thereof, shall be competent evidence whenever it shall be made to appear by the party’s own oath or otherwise, the original is shown to be lost, or not in the possession or under the control of the party wishing to use the same: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect any rights heretofore acquired by subsequent grantees, assignees, or encumbrancers.