I've read about this a long time ago, having a hell of a time on Google, but how was unclaimed land bought in the early settlement days? I vaguely recall in highschool often reading, "this guy bought this land in this year" but it was always unclear from whom they bought it. Usually, "the bank." I know sometimes it started with squatters and stone fences, and/or forced takeover of native territories. But at what point did the dollars typically enter the equation? Thanks!