Whensoever any alien or any foreign corporation, or corporations of another or of this state, or other person, shall have held title to real estate within this state, which he or they were not by the laws of this commonwealth authorized to hold, and shall have heretofore conveyed such title to any citizen of the United States, before any inquisition shall have been taken against the real estate so held to escheat the same, such citizen shall hold and may convey such title and real estate, indefeasibly as to any right of escheat in this commonwealth, by reason of such real estate having been held by an alien or corporation or other person not authorized to hold the same, or to the extent in which it had been held.