Acknowledgement

Can I have property without anyone else acknowledging that it belongs to me?
I was just wondering if can be the case that I can own something without anyone other than myself claiming that I own it. I was thinking about colonial empires and the need for other nations to acknowledge their claims and boundaries over specific areas of lands. However at times this acknowledge meant did not come until months after the initial nation had proclaimed the land to be theirs. In those circumstances did the land still belong to them although no one was there to validate their claim? Is that necessary? Understandably in the case that I bring up some recognition is required in order for disputes over boundaries not to occur, but does it work the same way in regards to more general objects? When does one begin owning something?

Owning and Being Owned

can the things that we own or posses end up owning or possessing us? We have responsibility due to ownership; responsibility for the things that we own. Due to owning things, we must also behave in certain manners, I mean that they (the things) can often direct our actions. For instance one owns a car, one is responsible for that car, if it rolls down the hill and crashes into something one is responsible for that. Also, in order to continue to drive that car one must have a job, to either make payments on the car or to buy gas or repairs, and thus the car is keeping one working. So then who or what is really running the show?