Joseph Hallett II was an English nonconformist minister and dissenting academy tutor.
Background
The son of Joseph Hallett I (1628?–1689), he was born and baptised on 4 November 1656. He was probably educated by his father, was ordained in 1683, and on the erection of James" Meeting (1687), the meeting-house in Exeter was appointed his father"s assistant. He had a similar post under George Trosse, his father"s successor, and on Trosse"s death (11 January 1713) became pastor.
Career
Hallett ran in Exeter a nonconformist academy, which became noted as a nursery of unorthodox theological views. Its opening has been dated as early as 1690. lieutenant had a well-established reputation when John Fox entered it in May 1708.
Number suspicion of heresy attached to it until 1710, when Hallett"s son Joseph III became an assistant tutor, and brought in discussion of William Whiston"s views.
Hallett was the first to comply. His declaration, though adopted by some and not formally objected to by any, was not satisfactory to the majority.
In Calamy"s view the trustees exceeded their powers. A vote of the congregation should have been taken.
Hallett and Peirce secured a temporary place of worship, which was opened on 15 March.
This body in May proposed that all its members should subscribe Thomas Bradbury"s "gallery declaration" (see Salter"s Hall controversy). At this point 56 did so, while 19 refused and seceded. A new building, called the Mint Meeting, was erected for Hallett and Peirce (opened 27 December 1719).
The congregation numbered about 300.
Hallett"s academy did not long survive these changes. lieutenant was closed in 1720.
A list of 37 of his students was in the Monthly Repository, 1818, p. 89: they included James Foster and Peter King.
Hallett died in 1722.
Membership
They were still members of the Exeter assembly.