All sales of realty made under executions issued prior to March the fifteenth, one thousand nine hundred and one, on judgments regularly obtained in courts of competent jurisdiction, are hereby validated, whether such sales were continued from day to day or for a longer period, not exceeding ten days: Provided, that such executions and sales are in all other respects regular: Provided further, that purchasers and their assigns shall have held continuous and adverse possession under a sheriff’s deed for three years: Provided further, that the rights of minors and married women shall in nowise be prejudiced hereby. (1901, c. 742; Rev., s. 646; C.S., s. 693; 1949, c. 719, s. 3.)