Following the death of Sage Kinvig (c. 1870–1962), Maddrell was the only remaining person who could claim to have spoken Manx Gaelic from childhood (according to one source, Maddrell had some knowledge of English before he learned Manx, and learned Manx from his great-aunt), although at the time some other people spoke it as a second language, having learned it later in life.
Logo da morte de Mrs. Sage Kinvig (1870–1962), Maddrell foi a única persoa que podía dicir que falara manx dende a súa xuventude (segundo algunhas fontes Maddrell tiña coñecementos de inglés antes de aprender manx, que o aprendeu dunha tía avoa súa), aínda que outros nesa época o falaban como segunda lingua.