Assassin's Creed 3 extra Assassins and crafting?

1) I am 36% about 16 hours in AC3 I remember helping a guy in a mission (he is French, has a beige bandana, and likes to use a butcher knife) , and later I was able to talk to him in a bar , and now can call him randomly to Assassinate people for me (he usually chops someone then shots another guy in the face - awesome)I also remember in some part of a menu being able to send him on an Assassin mission like the older AC games. Now I have no clue where that options is and I also do not know where to find any other people to recruit to (if you can even do that). Any help would be appreciated.

2) From selling animal furs I usually have enough money to buy stuff I need from caravans or general stores. I noticed breifly you can craft stuff through a kind of weird Witcher like menu with combining a worker (someone you rescued near Achiles house) and combining other ingredients). I have not made anything yet and I was wondering if crafting anything has any significant benefits or goodies?

3) I noticed after rescuing someone would lead to something like a message coming up saying "You now have access to Jim Bobs Farm" forgot what else it. What is this access? Is it that you can buy stuff from them , if so where? Or does it mean you have access to use them when crafting stuff?

I know most of the answers could probably be found somewhere in the huge menu of Assassins Creed 3 I just figured "I would ask here to get some opinons and feedback. thanks for your help.