There were a couple of known "J. Wills" so posting a couple pictures of the rifle will help in its identification. Jerry Noble & Tom Moore's recent "Gun tTade in America," a compendium of known information on early American gunsmiths, gives the following:
1.J. E. Wills - known half-stocked rifle with a Pittsburgh, PA lock plate.
2. James Q. Wills - son of John Wills and was killed while in Confederate service. Worked in Meriwether or Harris Co., GA.
3. John W. Wills - served CSA. worked Columbus, GA 1861-1864. From Muscogee Co., GA
If you can post pictures here, best views would be:
1. standard front half-shot, showing full butt out to about 8" past lock plate,
2. standard back half-shot, showing full butt of back side out to about 8" past where lock plate sits on opposite side,
3. full length view of front side.
Collectors on this site should be able to tell you a lot more about your rifle and where made, once they see pictures.
Shelby Gallien
